Steve Borthwick has shared his delight in Leicester Tigers contributing a FIFTH of the England squad that is preparing to face Ireland this weekend.
Hooker Nic Dolly was called up to replace knee-injury victim Luke Cowan-Dickie, thus becoming the seventh Leicester Tigers player to be named in the latest 36-man group alongside club-mates George Ford, Freddie Steward, Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes and Ollie Chessum.
“It’s excellent, we’ve got seven Leicester Tigers players in the squad, which is tremendous,” said Tigers head coach Borthwick.
“I don’t know what the allocations are from other clubs, I don’t know how many people are in from other clubs, but I think that’s a pretty fair proportion of the squad. Which I am delighted [about].
“It shows the players are playing well, it shows they are fighting hard for international selection. I am delighted for Nic along with the other six.”
Eleven of the 13 Gallagher Premiership clubs have representation in the latest squad with Harlequins’ six being the closest rivals to Tigers.
Saracens (5) and Bath (4) are the other clubs to have contributed more than three to the group assembled by England head coach Eddie Jones.
It’s another measure of success for Tigers during the Borthwick era as they sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership table and were the top seed from their Heineken Champions Cup pool.
“I am really happy for the players and I am really proud of them,” said Borthwick.
“If players’ aspirations are for international rugby, then I want to help them take steps forward on that journey.
“Players do all the hard work, so players deserve all the credit. I am just delighted for them.”
Tigers’ defeat to Saracens last weekend saw Ford, Chessum and Heyes all
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