James Pulls Out

Defender James Tomkins has had to pull out of the England U17 party due to injury - but Hogan Ephraim has seens some match action in the first of the three games they are due to play over the next few days.

Explaining why James has been withdrawn from international duty, Academy director Tony Carr says:

"James Tomkins has had to pull out with a hamstring - he did two training sessions with England and didn't tell them he had a tweak in his hamstring.

"He trained on and has done some damage on it, so he is going to be out for two or three weeks and they have sent him back to us."

The news is better for striker Hogan Ephraim, though, and Tony says:

"I went to the England game yesterday when they played Italy and won 2-0.

"Hogan came on after 60 minutes, showed some nice touches, and had some influence in the forward movements they created.

"It was a good win for England and a good performance overall."

Meanwhile, giving his thoughts on England rugby coach Clive Woodward possibly switching his professional attention to football, Tony says:

"It is an interesting one; I have a fairly open mind on it.

"I don't think he will be on the training pitch doing the coaching or picking the team, but I think he will be looking at training schedules and the psychological aspects of the game and mental and physical preparation.

"I don't think he would be involved in the technical side, but certainly a man that has won the World Cup with the England team deserves some respect, and I am sure he has something to offer.

"As long as he doesn't arrive on the first day on the training ground and take out a load of rugby balls!"