Thirteen years ago, he promised his primary school teacher that if he ever played for England he’d get her tickets to his first game to say thank you for her support.

And he kept his promise.

When Lewis Ludlam ran out with the England rugby union squad against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday, his former teacher Sandra Taylor was in the crowd.

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“Can’t believe we actually managed to track her down!” he tweeted.

Mr Ludlam, 24, a flanker at Northampton Saints, was a pupil at Gorseland Primary School, in Ipswich, when he was taught by Mrs Taylor. It is there he is said to have started to make an impression with his rugby skills.

After leaving, he won a scholarship to the prestigious St Joseph’s College, in Ipswich, an independent school with a strong focus on playing rugby.

Yesterday, the England star tweeted a picture of himself with Mrs Taylor stating: “Thirteen years ago I promised my primary school teacher if I ever played for England I’d get her tickets to my first game to thank her for her support. Can’t believe we actually managed to track her down!”

The tweet was liked by more than 10,000 people and retweeted almost 1,000 times. It attracted more than 200 replies, including from school governor Natalie Howes, who said: “I bet that made her day/month/year/teaching career!”

Mrs Taylor replied: “Yes, it did!”

Mr Ludlam has now been named in the 31 man England squad for the World Cup in Japan next month.