Skivington backs players for call-ups

GEORGE Skivington confided that centre Seb Atkinson and lock Arthur Clark were being watched by England head coach Steve Borthwick on Sunday as Gloucester Rugby thrashed Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm, writes John Evely.

- GEORGE Skivington

England will travel to Argentina for a two-test tour and face the USA in Washington this summer while the British and Irish Lions take on Australia. Andy Farrell will name his Lions squad next Thursday, and while Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams, below, is the only Gloucester player in the mix, the absence of England players and injuries will create opportunities on England's Americas tour for players like Atkinson and Clark. Starting England centre Ollie Lawrence is sidelined with injury and lock Maro Itoje a contender to be the Lions captain, so Borthwick is scouting for new recruits.