Varndell eyes a place among England's elite

Leicester and England wing Tom Varndell is hoping he has done enough to warrant a place in England's elite player squad for next season.

Leicester and England wing Tom Varndell is hoping he has done enough to warrant a place in England's elite player squad for next season.

Varndell was a late inclusion in England's squad for their two-Test tour to New Zealand and played in the second Test, scoring one try and having a second disallowed by the TMO.

With Martin Johnson set to announce his 32-man squad on July 1, the 22-year-old is hopeful of earning a place.

“I'd love to be in the squad,” Varndell told BBC Sport.

“If I'm given the opportunity that's brilliant and I'll grab it with both hands.”

But Rugby Football Union Director of Elite rugby Rob Andrew warned that competition for places will be tough and said the two heavy defeats in New Zealand had given the management group plenty to think about.

“We wanted to learn about our younger players as we move towards the autumn internationals and we have learned some really good things,” Andrew said.

“We have also learned one or two things about some players we didn't want to learn.

“And we have left probably 10 or 12 players at home who are likely to be in the elite squad.”

Of those left at home Varndell's team-mates at Leicester Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody are both expected to be included

Ellis was left out because he had only just returned to action after a serious knee problem and Moody missed out because of injury.