FROM an 11 pound baby boy to an 18 stone giant.

At the weekend the British and Irish Lions fielded its heaviest ever front row one member of whom was Bromley's very own "Big Ted".

Sale Sharks' Andrew Sheridan all 6ft 5in of him was paired with fellow prop forward Julian White and hooker Steve Thompson, at a combined weight of 54st 10lb, to take on the fearsome New Zealand Maori pack.

Though he was on the losing side Sheridan, whose parents still live in Petts Wood, came through the challenge relatively unscathed a yellow card for a mis-directed haymaker apart and could well be in line for a surprise inclusion in the Lions team for the first test against the All Blacks on June 25, despite having made just a solitary appearance for England as a substitute against Canada last Autumn.

Mum Elizabeth said: "Clive Woodward said everyone would be given a start at some point on the tour, but the Maori match was perhaps a bigger game than Andrew expected.

"They say it's almost like the fourth test, and he was up against one of the best tight-head props Carl Hayman in world rugby. I must admit I was a bit nervous for him, because it was such a big game.

"But it helped that he was playing alongside another of the world's best props in Julian White, who's an old team-mate of Andrew's from his Bristol days.

"Andrew's enjoying the tour hugely. He phones home all the time, and is amazed at how rugby in New Zealand is treated like a religion.

"I love watching the matches, even though I worry about him getting injured, but he's big enough to look after himself. He can lift 34st so he wasn't an 11lb baby for nothing."

From an early age Sheridan, now 25, showed an appetite for rugby, and during his time at Crofton Infant School he joined Chislehurst-based outfit Old Elthamians.

The club's current chairman Nick Burne remembers a strapping lad who took some stopping.

He said: "Andrew played for us from under-9 to under-15 level, and was a leading player in one of the club's best ever teams. His age group won every Kent Cup competition they ever played in. I had the pleasure of refereeing them many times, and they were a great side.

"From the age of nine Andrew was the biggest and strongest boy in the league. Every time he went into a ruck or maul he always won the ball, and it normally took two or three boys to stop him. Often during the summer now he still returns to the club to train with his father. We're immensely proud he's the first Old Elthaminan to have represented the British Lions."

After leaving Old Elthamians and quitting his history degree Sheridan turned professional at 19, joining Richmond before moving to Bristol.

But it was at current club Sale that he forged his reputation as a scrummager par excellence.

England and Lions coach Andy Robinson said: "Andy's such a powerful man he shows everyone up in training. The man's a beast with the bit between his teeth, and is determined to be a success. He's already shown for Sale what a powerful scrummager he is."

On his return from the tour Sheridan dubbed "Big Ted" after the son of the Sale Sharks coach mistakenly thought his Dad was signing Teddy Sheringham plans to marry his fiancee Siwan.

Elizabeth added: "She's just hoping he doesn't get too bashed up for the wedding photos."

The next match of the Lions tour is against Wellington tonight.