Saracens' teenage sensation Noah Caluori has set his sights on an England Test debut this summer, believing his time has come after a breakthrough season that has turned heads across the Premiership.
The 19-year-old flyer has been nothing short of electric, racking up 18 tries in the league this campaign. That puts him just two short of Sam Simmonds' regular-season record from 2021—a mark that seemed untouchable until now. For a young player making his mark, it's the kind of form that demands attention.
Caluori already got a taste of the international setup when he trained with Steve Borthwick's senior squad ahead of the autumn internationals. Now, with the summer tour on the horizon, he's ready for more.
"I feel like now is a good time to play international rugby," Caluori told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "I feel like I would back myself if I got put into that environment. I would be happy to go on the tour."
The journey has been rapid. After scoring five tries against Sale on his full Saracens debut back in October, Caluori earned an immediate call-up to Borthwick's autumn squad and made an appearance for England 'A' in November. For a player who was still finding his feet at senior level just months ago, it's been a whirlwind rise.
But he wasn't rushed into the Six Nations. Instead, Caluori featured for the Under-20s, and he admits that stepping up to full international rugby at that point might have been premature.
"Maybe the autumn or the Six Nations would have been a bit of a rush," he reflected. "But I feel like I got handled well. Putting me into England 'A' to experience that level, while also enjoying my time with the Under-20s and following a physical development plan, was good."
The summer tour schedule is a tough one. On 4 July, England face South Africa in Johannesburg, before taking on Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool a week later. They'll then travel to Santiago del Estero in Argentina to face the Pumas on 18 July. For a young player looking to make his mark, it's a chance to test himself against some of the best in the world.
"If I were to play for England earlier this year it would have been a rush, but now is a good time," Caluori said. "Especially experiencing this run-in with everything on the line for Saracens. It shows how critical every result is, and that's similar to a Test match game."
He's already had conversations with Borthwick, and the message is clear: keep playing your best rugby, and the opportunity will come. For now, Caluori is focused on finishing the season strong with Saracens, knowing that a summer Test debut could be just around the corner.