Clark doubtful for England tour

Editor

England flanker Calum Clark is a doubt for the tour of South America after an ankle injury ruled him out of Saturday's Premiership final.

England flanker Calum Clark is a doubt for the tour of South America after an ankle injury ruled him out of Saturday's Premiership final.

Clark sustained the injury during Northampton's semi-final win over Saracens and he has failed to recover in time for the Saints' clash with Leicester at Twickenham.

he will be assessed by the England's medical staff on Sunday and a decision on whether he will miss the tour will be made then.

Clark missed England's 2012 tour to South Africa after receiving a record 32-week suspension for breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins.

England boss Stuart Lancaster stood by Clark and he was recalled for the Six Nations, only to suffer a shoulder injury in January that sidelined him for the whole tournament.

Clark was selected again for England's three-match tour, which starts against a combined South American XV in Montevideo a week tomorrow before two Tests against Argentina.

Phil Dowson will start at blindside flanker for Northampton in the Premiership final as the Saints go in search of their first title.