England trio available for Bath Rugby at Irish
Bath Rugby will be able to call on the services of England EPS members Lee Mears, Matt Banahan and Shontayne Hape when they return to Guinness Premiership action at London Irish on Sunday.
The trio were released back to the club from England's training camp at Pennyhill Park tonight after failing to make it into Martin Johnson's matchday squad this weekend's RBS 6 Nations clash in Italy.
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Lee Mears
Johnson will announce his team will be named at 12 noon tomorrow and prop David Wilson, who started last Saturday's opening win over Wales at Twickenham, will be hoping to keep hold of the number three shirt.
Hape was a late addition to the bench for the Wales game but had to withdraw due to a stomach bug. Riki Flutey's return from a thigh injury means he is not required for Sunday's trip to Rome, however.
Northampton's Chris Ashton and Courtenay Lawes, Leicester trio Jordan Crane, Dan Hipkiss and Ben Youngs and Wasps' Dan Ward-Smith are also free to play for their respective clubs this weekend.
Comments
by Mike, Oldfield Park
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 8:27AM
“I say stick with the team that won at the weekend, that was some of the best rugby I have seen in a long time. I saw a real unity in the team and some of the passing moves were breath-taking at time.
Don't get me wrong, I am a massive fan of Banahan, Mears, Hape and Classens - they are all world class players. I just think it would be a good signal from Meehan to the players to say 'play well and win and you stay in the team' - as a player what more motivation do you need?”