‘Do you reckon he will arrive in a limo?’ says a young rugby player at Sutton & Epsom RFC as he and a host of other 13-year-olds await the arrival of London Irish and England scrum-half Paul Hodgson.

But the man himself is quick to re-assure everyone he is not at all big time, despite having earned nine caps for his country and being a valued member of team boss Martin Johnson’s England elite player squad.

“I drove myself here, so don’t worry about that. I don’t see myself as big time, I’m just known as the guy who grew up playing here,” he says as we chat in the Rugby Lane clubhouse.

“Because I didn’t go to a rugby playing school I don’t think I’d be in this position if it wasn’t for Sutton rugby club.

“From that point of view I always feel I owe this place an awful lot.”

The former Glyn Technology School student came up through the junior ranks at Sutton before graduating to the first team and later turning professional with Championship side Bristol in 2001 - when they were then in the English top flight.

The 27-year-old, who moved to the Exiles in 2004, starred for his country in the autumn internationals, but has been forced to sit and watch much of the Six Nations from the sidelines as a replacement.

To him, his debut in a 33-10 triumph over Ireland in 2008 - his starting shirt takes pride of place at Sutton - seems a while ago as he has dropped behind Leicester Tigers Ben Youngs in the pecking order.

“You can think you’ve been hard done by, but it is a competitive environment so you go back to you club, to try and put some performances together to get you noticed,” adds Hodgson.

“I started the Argentina and New Zealand games. I carried out the game plan against Argentina and put in a good performance against the All Blacks. I was a little bit disappointed not to get the nod for the Six Nations.

“At that point you are thinking you can only move on from this by trying to put performances in when you come off the bench to try and impress.

“ Hodgson can often be spotted giving masterclasses to Sutton’s young skipper Steve Munford and coaching at fellow Surrey clubs Kingston and Dorking.

And no matter how far Hodgson’s rugby career takes him he is always more than happy to keep close to home - he lives in Ewell - and lend a hand giving something back to the club that has given him everything.

“Nothing ever seems ‘same-old, same-old’ to me coming down here. Because of the nature of club’s like this there are always different members to meet as well as old friends to catch up on,” he said.

“The reception I get here is always nice. It keeps you grounded. Clubs like this are always welcoming and inviting. They have a great family atmosphere for all the family.

“There are a lot of kids here aspiring to follow in my foot steps, hopefully I can be a good role model.”

*Paul Hodgson was speaking as he supported the RBS RugbyForce scheme at boyhood rugby club Sutton & Epsom RFC.