He scored two tries on his debut for England against Argentina in the summer and is now breathing down the neck, in terms of selection, of the likes of Saracens wing Chris Ashton.
Having played football, cricket and tried athletics during his formative years, it was watching Jonny Wilkinson and England lift the World Cup in 2003 that triggered his passion for rugby.
And after starting the new season like an express train for struggling Irish, Yarde is determined to take his chance for England should boss Stuart Lancaster look his way this autumn.
“I remember watching the 2003 World Cup Final,’ Yarde told the Daily Mail. “It was really cool and sparked my vision to be part of this sport.
“I had no contact with rugby at that stage and I didn't even know who Jonny Wilkinson was, or any of the players to be honest.
“It was just the sport; I found it really exciting. Obviously, as time moved on, I learned who Jonny Wilkinson is!
“Having just tasted international rugby, I'm really hungry for more of it and for success as well.
“I just want to do it all the time now. I know the World Cup is going to be a massive thing and it is definitely in the back of my mind.”
The fact Yarde is playing in a struggling London Irish side and a pack rarely moving forward this season, pundits and England fans alike feel his international chances will be halted as a result.
But the flying wing is convinced Irish will turn around their difficult start to the season and prove their doubters wrong.
“We can't control what other people think,” he said. “We've only played two games so it's hard to say we're battling for survival. The quality of players we've got here will give us a really good chance of winning games.”