A RECORD-BREAKING weightlifter will be behind Royal Grammar School Worcester’s push for an unprecedented third successive Modus Challenge Cup.

Powerhouse prop Myren Madden is set to pack down against King’s School Worcester in the annual clash at Sixways tonight (7pm).

The 17-year-old is in Worcester Warriors’ academy and was part of the RGS team that held aloft the trophy after a 31-13 victory 12 months ago.

Since then Madden has been lifting big weights on the global stage.

He registered three British records on his way to finishing ninth in the IWF Youth World Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas in March.

Simon McGarry-Cross, who is a former coach at Warriors and now head of rugby at RGS, said Madden would give his side “a bit of X-factor up front”.

“He is sticking in excess of 130 kilograms above his head which is more than I ever did as a player,” said the ex-Edinburgh back rower.

“He manages to bring his weightlifting form onto the rugby field which is exciting to watch.

“As a schoolboy he plays tighthead prop like a back rower.

“He gives you those hard yards and is difficult to bring down.

“I am not sure I would want to get in the way of him when he is going at full speed. He is a handful.”

Three more players from Warriors’ youth set-up will also start for RGS with Oliver Witcomb captaining the side at scrum-half and James Mann and Flynn Vries combining in the centres.

McGarry-Cross admitted his team were “less talented” than last year’s victorious side but were “an awful lot tougher”.

Since losing to Dean Close School, RGS have put together an eight-match unbeaten streak heading into the challenge cup.

“There is quite a different dynamic to this team,” McGarry-Cross added.

“They would admit that they are less talented but have put a better run together than last year’s group.

“They want to work hard and are a very good team with great individuals within it.

“RGS will always go into this game as underdogs given the nature of the numbers.

“But our guys are going for three in a row which is unprecedented for RGS and just another milestone we are trying to get.”

Captain and number eight Hamish Stigant, hooker Joe Richardson, centre Willem Humphreys and wing Alex Lowe are among those who will hope to gain revenge after the 2018 defeat.

But King’s School will field a side containing a number of fresh faces and director of sport Jonny Mason is in optimistic mood ahead of the clash.

“It’s quite a young squad as we didn’t retain a lot of players,” Mason said.

“But they have really come together well off the back of a rugby tour to South Africa in the summer.

“They have gelled really well as a group and are working really hard for each other.

“We had a successful pre-season in Sheffield and have had some tough games so far this season.

“But we feel we have performed well in all of them and just grown a bit more in each game so we are really looking forward to the challenge.”

Tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £5 for three to 19-year-olds while under threes can get in free of charge.