News

England's 25 per cent deficit

August 12 2009

No fewer than 16 of the 64 players selected in England's training squads are still feeling the effects of last season, it emerged on Tuesday.

Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood, Andy Goode, Topsy Ojo, Tom Rees, Paul Sackey, Will Skinner, George Skivington, Jordan Turner-Hall, Sam Vesty and Richard Wigglesworth were all sent back to their clubs for continued rehab and injury treatment, David Strettle and Luke Narraway both had back injuries, Ben Kay has a neck problem and Delon Armitage did not last long in training before his right shoulder gave way - an injury that will keep him out of the start of the season.

It's not a good start for England, with a long domestic season looming, and it should cast further doubt on the physical demands placed upon players these days.

Better news came from France, where Stade Français coach Ewen McKenzie predicted a strong season from James Haskell and Tom Palmer, despite the Parisians' injury list compromising McKenzie's efforts at gathering a matchday XV together.