TWO weeks ago 7,475 people saw Gloucester’s Ollie Morgan sprint 50m across the Adams Park turf to smash into Jack Wallace, the 18-year-old RGS old boy who was making his Wasps debut at full back.

The high-impact collision flattened Wallace, and although he climbed to his feet to finish the half, he refused Morgan’s apology as the players trooped down the tunnel and could not return for the second period.

Watching from high in the stands was Jack’s brother, Tom.

He said: “I went mental. I went absolutely mad. I just wanted to get down there and have a go at Ollie Morgan.”

Tom is 16 and it wasn’t that long ago that he was the one landing the blows as the pair jostled over a rugby ball in their back garden.

Jack said: “Tom’s always been more suited to rugby than me.

“I used to be tall and gangly but he’s always been more filled out, that’s why he took to it at such a young age while I didn’t start playing until I was introduced to rugby at grammar school when I was 12 or 13.

“But we’ve both got a competitive streak and we used to fight all the time.”

A growth spurt eventually saw Jack shoot ahead of his younger brother, and his rugby career has followed a similar trajectory.

England honours at U16s, U18s, and now U20s followed before Wasps gave him his chance against Gloucester.

He said: “I’ve watched the video and thought I did ok. Tony [Hanks, director of rugby] said he was pleased with me so I couldn’t be happier.

“But I’d like to have played the whole game.”

Morgan’s brutal welcome to professional rugby did not even earn a yellow card, a decision which produced a series of catcalls from the terraces.

Jack said: “It’s not really what you want on your debut. All I remember is I was just about to go up for a high ball when his shoulder or arm hit my jaw.

“The next thing I remember is the physio was sitting next to me.

“I’m just happy I walked away from it and after a day or two I was feeling myself again.”

Jack was promoted to the Wasps full time academy this summer, alongside another RGS old boy, Christian Wade, and Tom admits the pair have become mini celebrities in the classrooms corridors of their old school.

He said: “Most of the people know him and people that never even followed rugby now come up to me and ask how he’s getting on.

“They think it’s amazing they went to school with him and now he’s playing for Wasps.

“He’s a celebrity at school and I feel quite proud to have a brother like that.

“I was nervous for him before his first game. I didn’t really know what he’d be feeling like.

“I didn’t know what I’d be feeling like. It’s such a big step up that at my age I can’t even imagine it. But I couldn’t believe he was playing with people like Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley. It’s quite amazing.”

But Tom, who is the youngest member of the RGS first team, might not be too far behind.

Like Jack he was called into the England U16s squad a year early and this season he has been invited to join Wasps’ elite academy.

With Tom Rees, Wade and the two Wallaces, it’s possible to see the shoots emerging of a Wasps side with a real local flavour.

Jack said: “Anything can happen in four or five years.

“I want to continue to progress and start making regular appearances, and hopefully Tom will be contracted to the club when he comes out of sixth form.

“It would be amazing if it did happen.”

They’re not the first in their family to wear the black and gold though.

During the 1950s their grandad Ted Woodward captained the club.

Woodward also won 19 England caps and, as a winger with a 6ft2ins, 17 stone frame, was the Jonah Lomu of his era.

Their dad Eion broke the link though, playing for Northampton Wanderers instead.