ENGLAND could shortly face a doomsday scenario of having to develop international players who are not regular first choices for their clubs, warned the England coach, Jack Rowell, at Twickenham yesterday.
Rowell called for restrictions to be introduced by the Rugby Football Union on the number of imported players recruited by Courage League Division One clubs.
"England find themselves in a fix today - the number of number 10s is drying up before our very eyes," complained Rowell, after naming three outhalves in a squad of 30, one of whom - Paul Grayson - is not the first choice for Northampton, who instead prefer Scotland's Gregor Townsend.
The England coach acknowledged that only four England qualified out halves are currently playing first division rugby.
"I would like to see a limitation on the number of foreign players coming into the Courage League, otherwise England are going to be in serious trouble at international level within a few years," warned Rowell.
Rowell's public misgivings coincide with the development of an RFU plan to offer Division One clubs cash incentives to select a minimum number of players who qualify for England without falling foul of EU employment regulations.
At present, there is no limit on the number of European players an English club can recruit, though the RFU has decreed a maximum of one per club from the southern hemisphere countries.
Leicester received enormous praise from Rowell for their achievement in reaching the Heineken European Cup final with 15 England qualified players in their side, five of whom have won a place in his squad.
Significantly, Rowell has recalled the Leicester open side, Neil Back, who has not played for his country since injuring a hamstring during the 1995 World Cup.
Will Greenwood, the greatly improved Leicester centre, and Darren Garforth, the tight head prop, are promoted from the A squad, along with the Saracens flanker, Richard Hill.
The intention was to keep the squad together, subject to form, for the duration of the Five Nations Championship, explained Rowell. "We are taking on the challenge of changing players and, changing their style. It's not a straightforward process and it can be painful." While admitting that "no one was happy" with England's performance against Argentina, Rowell said he was pleased with the "atmosphere of openness and trust in the squad".
He will hold the first training session of the new year at Bisham Abbey next Wednesday and the team to play Scotland will be announced on January 20th. Some changes in the back row and at half back are expected.
Meanwhile, Scotland's selectors have wielded the axe for the Five, Nations match against Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday week, dropping four players from the 21 chosen for the 29-22 win over Italy last month.
Out go experienced lock Damian Cronin, number eight Eric Peters, prop Barry Stewart and scrum half Derrick Patterson, while flanker Ian Smith is unavailable because of a broken thumb.
In come scrum half Gary Armstrong, prop Tom Smith and backrow man Rob Wainwright after injury, while there are also recalls for flanker Peter Walton and lock Shade Munro.
First choice Scotland scrum half Bryan Redpath will not play for his club Melrose on Saturday, but has been passed fit for the Welsh match.
"Bryan has a twinge in his back but it is not related to the back injury that kept him out of the New Zealand tour last said Scotland coach Richie Dixon.
The selectors have not yet named their captain, but it seems certain it will be either Gregor Townsend, who led the Scots in their three autumn matches at Murrayfield, or Wainwright, Scotland's skipper last season.
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