Time to shine for England Saxons, says Gloucester Rugby"s Charlie Sharples

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A masterful performance in a Saxons shirt tomorrow could springboard Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples into England reckoning when the summer comes.

The jet-heeled winger was a late call-up to the Saxons squad preparing to take on the Irish Wolfhounds at Kingsholm tomorrow (5pm) after injury to Tom Varndell.

Sharples accepted the initial England snub, believing he had not done enough for the Cherry and Whites to warrant an international nod.

But now that a “massive” opportunity has come calling, Sharples knows he must seize it with both hands for the sake of club and country.

The 24-year-old said: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, but as a player you always have one eye on England.

“I try not to focus too much on it as it can affect how you play for your club.

“I always say if you play well for your club you will get rewarded off the back of it, and the England coaches are very good at that.

“First and foremost, I must play well for Gloucester and that has been hard due to the nature of our season.

“But hopefully now we will have a better run-in to the end of the season and start putting better performances together.

“If I can be a part of a Gloucester team that’s playing well and I’m playing well myself then that’s all I can to do to stick my hand up for selection and get in the reckoning for the summer tours.

“The Saxons is a great opportunity, an unexpected opportunity really with the late call-up, but I just want to have fun.

“I’m going to go out there, give it my best and enjoy

putting on that England shirt. If I have a good game then who knows what will happen off the back of it.

“It makes it all the more special for me that is it here at Kingsholm.”

The last time the Saxons graced the Kingsholm turf the former St Peters High School pupil starred in the 41-11 victory over Tonga.

The Wolfhounds have named an intimidating squad for the game led by Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock, but Sharples believes the depth of the Irish side provides no better platform for ambitious Saxons to make their mark.

He said: “They’ve named an experienced team. They picked the team from their whole squad so they are bound to have more experience.

“We have an exciting team and it’s going to be a big test and a big opportunity for players like myself to try to stick a hand up and show the senior squad coaches what you’re capable of.

“There’s no better occasion to do it than against a tough Irish squad.”

But come Sunday, Sharples is a Gloucester player once again.

He added: “There are no superstars in our team. When you come back to training, you’re a Gloucester player.

“Everyone has found this season incredibly frustrating and that’s the focus now, to turn things around.”

Article source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby-league/361320/Rugby-Union-Northampton-s-Luther-Burrell-knows-that-he-can-perform-well-for-England

Time to shine for England Saxons, says Gloucester Rugby"s Charlie Sharples