Rugby - Sale winger Solomona set sights on England call-up

The Auckland-born winger has been drawing rave reviews in England's Premiership since switching from rugby league in December and has scored 11 tries in as many games, including a first-half hat-trick against Wasps last month.

Rugby - Sale winger Solomona set sights on England call-up

(Reuters)

"Yes, 100 percent, if the opportunity presents itself, I'll take it with both hands," Solomona, a former Samoa rugby league international, told the Times. "At the moment, I'm just focussing on the now and playing well for Sale. If it comes, it comes."

Speculation has been growing in the British media that Solomona is primed for a call-up even though World Rugby will vote in May to extend the residency rule to five years in an attempt to counter the growing problem of nationality swapping.

England had four New Zealand-born players -- captain Dylan Hartley, prop Mako Vunipola, flanker Teimana Harrison and centre Ben Te'o -- in this year's Six Nations squad.

"I've bought a house here, I'm engaged to marry an English girl, I'm well and truly inside the English culture now. Circumstances change," the 23-year-old Solomona added.

"I've been here (in England) three years and that's the choice I want to make."

Solomona has also been tipped for a place on this year's British and Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand by former England back Austin Healey.

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world