A 16-year-old rugby sevens player from Esher is to compete at the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games in Sheffield this week.

Sarah Bern, an Esher High School pupil, will represent London and the south-east between Thursday, September 12, and Sunday, September 15, at Abbeydale Sports Ground.

About 1,600 other potential future sports stars competing across 12 sports.

Sarah, who plays for Esher Rugby Football Club and was nominated for the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year award by the Rugby Football Union last year, said: “I’m very happy to have been selected as it feels like all my hard work has paid off.

“This selection proves I’m progressing as I need to and makes me determined to keep working hard and push for my dream of one day playing for Great Britain at an Olympic Games – especially now it has been confirmed rugby sevens will be a sport at Rio 2016.”

Bern was congratulated by Sainsbury’s Active Kids ambassador, David Beckham, who said: “Sarah should be incredibly proud of being selected to compete in the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games.”