News

Woods hopes for Tuesday call

July 06 2009

Leicester openside Ben Woods has admitted he will be facing an anxious wait on Martin Johnson's Elite Player Squad announcement this Tuesday.

The former Newcastle flank impressed at Welford Road last season in the absence of injury victim Lewis Moody, enhancing his reputation in both Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup.

Woods' form ultimately culminated in a recent England Saxons call-up, with the 27-year-old crossing for a score against Ireland A in Denver - something which he hopes gives him a good chance of making the 2009/10 crop.

"It helped me because I had been playing regular rugby right up to the end of May and some of the guys in the Saxons squad had had a month without any competitive rugby when we got out there," he said, speaking to the Leicester Mercury.

"I had a lengthy lay-off during the season because of injury so there was no question of me being tired. It has been exactly the opposite.

"There was a really good atmosphere in the camp and that was helped by the fact that we were winning games.

"As professional players, you rarely get an opportunity to socialise with players from other teams and a tour like this gives you the chance to do that and get to know people a bit better.

"Having said that, I was rooming with Tom Varndell although I suppose that he is a Wasps player now.

"It was a big thing for me being out there representing the country.

"From the outside, people may have questions about the Saxons set-up.

"But we were all happy to be out there and very proud to have that shirt on our backs.

"It was very different from a club environment and was a great experience.

"It is a pleasure to represent your country and it is an environment in which everyone wants to push themselves forward to bigger and better things.

"A lot of the lads who have just played in the England side in the Argentina series have played Saxons rugby so we know we are being watched."