Shontayne Hape has declared himself a proud Englishman after being selected for Martin Johnson's Six Nations squad.
New Zealand-born Hape, who picked up 14 rugby league caps for the Kiwis before his switch to the 15-man code in 2008, said on Thursday that he expected even family and friends back home to raise eyebrows at his quest for an England shirt.
But the 28 year-old, who has lived in England for seven years and got his residency papers earlier this month, says he sees no contradiction in a former New Zealand rugby league star being in the England union set-up.
"I was brought up in New Zealand and I'm proud of where I come from but I'm proud to be an Englishman as well and have dual nationality," said the centre, who moved from Super League outfit Bradford Bulls to Bath 18 months ago.
"Being in the squad is one thing, actually playing international rugby is another. I'm looking forward to the challenge and it's one that I'm going to relish.
Scotland internationals Alasdair Strokosch and Scott Lawson have signed new two-year contracts with Gloucester.
Flanker Strokosch, who has won 14 caps, joined Gloucester from Edinburgh in 2007, while 16 times-capped hooker Lawson left Sale Sharks for Kingsholm in Sept 2008.
Both players have been regular first-team starters this season.
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath said: "Both players have been excellent so far for Gloucester this season, and are exactly the type of characters we want in the squad going forward.
"The pair of them signing shows their commitment to the club and continues our work in retaining our key players for next season and beyond."
Saracens back-row forward Don Barrell has been called into the England Sevens squad for the next two rounds of the IRB World Series.
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Having escaped the big freeze in the UK, Leeds Carnegie players will be offered no cold comfort in tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup pool one encounter at Rugby Parma.
Carnegie's training schedule has been disrupted by the severe cold snap and while the weather isn't quite as bad in Italy, the elements are far from benign either with the country having also suffered from plummeting temperatures.
Carnegie, who currently tops their pool ahead of Bourgoin on points difference with both amassing three wins from four outings thus far – flew out to northern Italy this morning, with Parma doing everything in their power to ensure tomorrow's clash goes ahead.
Director of rugby Andy Key said: "We haven't had a winter like this for many years and it's not too dissimilar out there. But it is a little better. We did a bit of a check-up in the early part of the week just to see the conditions out there and they have got frost sheets down just to make sure as the temperature has been a bit low.
"At the moment, it's pointing to the game being on and we'll keep our fingers crossed we won't have any problems getting out there.
"We've got by with the weather. It's not been great, but we're not alone up and down the country at the moment.
"We've used facilities allowing us to do certain things. We've done some physical work, but have had to keep it short – we've not done too bad, although it's not been perfect!"
Key added: "They beat Bourgoin at home and are a dangerous side on their own patch and play with a lot of passion, which you'd expect from the Italians.
"We've watched them very closely and specifically at home and I think they are a physical, strong side.
"They came to try and do things at our place, but we were too good on the day.
In France, the Heineken Cup—rugby union's answer to football's Champions League—is the tournament that dare not speak its name. Restrictions on alcohol advertising mean it is known as either the Coupe de Europe or the H Cup, the sponsor's initial happily evoking rugby posts.
Whatever they call it, French fans will be firmly focused on the Cup this weekend as it reaches round five of its six-match pool stage. Three French clubs—Toulouse, Biarritz and Stade Français— lead their groups with a fourth, Clermont Auvergne, handily placed.
Though France supplied the Heineken's first two winners—Toulouse and Brive—it couldn't maintain that dominance. Toulouse has won twice more to become the only three-time winner, but no other French club has triumphed since Brive's win in 1997. Since then, four English clubs —both Leicester and Wasps twice— and all three participating Irish provinces have lifted the trophy.
For five consecutive seasons prior to the 2003-2004 campaign, France had three quarter-finalists to England's two. In the following two seasons, they had three each. In each year since, England has placed three quarter-finalists, while France had two for two years, and then reached a new low last season. For the first time its teams lost more matches than they won. Only Toulouse made the last eight, and was promptly eliminated by Cardiff.
To explain France's current revival, it is necessary to ask why the country has performed so comparatively poorly of late, with only two losing finalists during the past four seasons.
He believes more French clubs think his way: "The difference now is that more clubs think they can win in Europe and are regarding it as a priority."
In addition, those clubs are increasingly equipped to chase two targets. Armed with a new television deal and booming attendances, French clubs have been flexing their financial muscles. Damian Hopley, chief executive of England's Professional Rugby Players Association (PRA) says, "The top French clubs have squads of international depth and quality. They could compete in the Six Nations championship."
The 2010 RBS 6 Nations kicks off on February 6 with Ireland looking to emulate their Grand Slam of 2009 and all six nations continuing their build up to next year's World Cup.
Ireland will look to maintain their grasp on the Trophy, while France with their traditional free spirited rugby will be viewed by many as Championship favourites.
England will be hoping to change the tide and bounce back from a tough autumn series with Wales looking to reap the rewards with their attacking rugby principals.
Scotland will enter the Championship in a buoyant mood under new coach Andy Robinson - especially after beating Australia in the Autumn - and outsiders Italy will be aiming to improve on recent RBS 6 Nations performances to become the surprise package.
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The 32-man party contains two uncapped newcomers in Bath's new Zealand-born centre, Shontayne Hape, and Northampton wing Chris Ashton.
The England manager wants players competing for every land in the Six Nations body to face Wales at Twickenham on Feb 6, consequently the gauntlet thrown down to Borthwick.
Although well-qualified is every chance that the maligned Saracens conjoin will lead England by oneself the tunnel domination the landmark centenary fixture at Twickenham, the alternative of a change of leader at some iota has been domiciliate into the mix.
"We'll name our captain as we get closer to the tournament," spoken Johnson, who has chosen Borthwick in all 14 Tests since which he has been weight charge.
"Steve has done a great job. Everyone is competing because places predominance the team. That's the way it has to be. besides that's the gate Steve would want undoubted to be."
The markedly likely scenario is that Johnson will start Borthwick after Simon Shaw magnetism the second row. The England manager has always scrupulous to demystify the role of captain, believing that a good span needs leaders all in that the field.
There may come a point, though, when he wants to span Shaw with the up-and-coming Northampton lock, Courtney Lawes, if only late on in the match.
Johnson could turn to back-row forwards Lewis dispirited or Nick Easter to slot into the captain's role, or perhaps Jonny Wilkinson. Whatever unfolds, Johnson consign not see it as a particularly big deal.
Borthwick has always been high in high regard by Johnson, due to his steadfastness further stoicism in what swear by been turbulent, strenuous times for England.
The selection of Hape increases the number of New Zealanders in the aggregation to three. Hooker Dylan Hartley hails from Rotorua, although he on edge to England pull his teens, while Brive core Riki Flutey is a Maori.
Johnson was not fazed by suggestions that England might be mimicking the at ease cricket side and their opinion seeing South African-born players.
"It's about what you do when you're access there, it's about what you show to the group, how you handle yourself, how you hold down besides the commitment you show," vocal Johnson, who has spoken to Hape, who qualifies being residence, about the issue.
"Riki is one of the crowing characters dominion the string prominence that touch. No onliest has ever doubted the obligation of [South African-born] Mike Catt to the cause."
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