England and Saracens star Maro Itoje left a young rugby player from Harpenden beaming – after telling him “I used to wear that shirt”.

Ten-year-old Henry Penstone was playing on the pitch with his Harpenden team-mates at Allianz Park during half-time in the Saracens v Northampton game on Saturday.

And when the youngster took the opportunity to grab a snap with one of his heroes, he was shocked at the reply.

He said: “I was just walking back to the car when I saw him and asked if I could have my picture taken.

“That’s when he said I used to play in that shirt.

“I was a bit scared at first but when he said he used to play for Harpenden I was more excited and happy.

“I knew he went to St George’s but I didn’t know he used to play for Harpenden.”

Itoje is one of three members of the victorious England grand-slam squad who spent time at the Sun Lane school, with Owen Farrell and George Ford.

And Henry is set to follow in the second-row’s footsteps as he will be going to St George’s from next year, to be in Monk House, the same as Itoje.

For now though the youngster is just enjoying playing rugby at the club, where he has been a member since he was five-years-old.

“We are doing fairly well in our festivals,” he said. “We finished second at one in Marlow.”