The quartet have had very different upbringings.

But Mark Wilson, Will Addison, Gary Graham and Chris Harris all will be hoping to make their respective marks on the international rugby scene in the coming months, with the Six Nations starting this weekend.

All four have Cumbrian links with Harris and Graham having began their careers at Carlisle Rugby Club, while Wilson and Addison were involved in Penrith’s youth set-up.

But, in fact, only Wilson will be representing England. Stirling-born Graham will be partnered by Harris in the Scots’ squad. Carlisle-born Harris qualifies to play for Gregor Townsend’s team through his grandmother’s heritage. Meanwhile King’s Meaburn lad Addison, whose mother is from County Fermanagh broke into the Ireland set-up last year.

But all four have kept in touch with friends from their Cumbrian roots. Carlisle stalwart Lee Brumpton recalls his first memories of Gary.

He says: “I played rugby with Gary’s older brother, George, and Gary came on to the scene at about 17.

"He stood out because he was big and very strong. I remember being hit by someone in a ruck and thinking ‘Who was that’, because he’d properly put me on my backside and looked up to realise it was a 17-year-old!

"So, Gary showed early promise and was naturally aggressive and really good in the contact area.”

Meanwhile Brumpton - who reveals both Harris and Graham came along to watch him play a match for England Police at Falcons’ Kingston Park - can also remember the first time he saw Harris in action similarly vividly.

“The first thing I can remember of Chris was him in a pre-season training session and his blonde hair flowing as he raced past me a couple of times,” he says. “So, I thought ‘Who is this kid’? At the time, he was just a 17-year-old. 

“He was fast, strong and a really good defender for his age, so he had all the basic skills that a rugby player needs and had a good foundation. He was a good lad, as well, going out for a few pints with the boys after training and getting involved in other social things, too.

"He actually lived around the corner from me, so I used to pick him up for training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and for games on the Saturdays.”

Like Brumpton, chairman David Stout is delighted with how far Harris and Graham have progressed, with Gary’s younger brother, Guy, and Brett Connon (younger brother of Carlisle first-team players Brett and Grant) now also with Newcastle and hoping to follow in their footsteps.

Stout admits: “It’s wonderful. Whatever your school is, whatever your club is, to have players move on and play international rugby club is the peak of achievement.

"It’s great for those individuals’ schools and clubs to enjoy that success, and we are no exception. We are delighted they both have done so well, they are great ambassadors for the club.

“Having been lucky enough to move up [through the rugby pyramid] myself, I’ve always found it important to align what’s best for the club with what’s best for the player.

"I’ve always been of the view that, if you are good enough, give it a go. We wouldn’t want players thinking they had done something wrong, simply by trying to achieve their potential.”

Penrith chairman Geoff Matthews also explains how Kendal-born Wilson had come to start his junior rugby career at Penrith. 

“Kendal weren’t running any youth rugby at all, so he came to us in his early teens,” Matthews explains.

“He came through the ranks with us but, as soon as he got to the Colts level, he moved back to Kendal which was a fairly natural move for him. He was a fairly unassuming guy.

"From what I can remember, Mark was always a big lad, very quiet and, not particularly aggressive, but he did put himself about.

"For his age, he wouldn’t have been outstanding. But as soon as he went back to Kendal and was bumped straight back into their first-team, he then started to shine.”

Matthews adds: “Addison was a slightly different kettle of fish.

"I knew him quite well actually because I coached him. He played minis at Upper Eden but, again, the same scenario came about for him with Upper Eden not doing anything at youth level. 

“He came through to our Colts set-up. I coached him when he was probably around 15 and 16. He was always a step above everybody else.

"The one thing I can always remember with him was I realised that his potential was better than my coaching ability. I was trying to coach a few things, and I was obviously coaching a lot of kids at the time, but his playing ability was way above my coaching ability.”

After France host Wales tonight, the three countries that the Cumbrian will be playing for will start their Six Nations campaigns tomorrow when Scotland welcome Italy (2.15pm kick-off), before Ireland host England (4.45pm kick-off).

Wilson will start for England at the Aviva Stadium while Harris and Graham will both be on Scotland's bench for their opener.