Bell earns England call-up

Duncan Bell yesterday appeared on the verge of an England call-up - just three months after being told he could not play for Wales.

Bath prop Bell looks set to answer an SOS from England boss Andy Robinson after the world champions’ injury jinx returned with a vengeance just a week before they tackle RBS 6 Nations title favourites Ireland in Dublin.

Front-row warrior Phil Vickery will miss the rest of the tournament after breaking his arm during Gloucester’s 17-16 Zurich Premiership victory over Bath at Kingsholm on Saturday.

And with Vickery’s fellow tighthead, Leicester forward Julian White, already absent from the Ireland game due to a neck injury, 30-year-old Bell could now receive a call.

Robinson’s injury worries do not end there, though, because centre Olly Barkley withdrew from the Bath starting line-up at Gloucester.

Barkley faced a hospital scan yesterday while Gloucester centre Henry Paul, who started at fly-half against Bath, limped out of the Kingsholm action because of an ankle problem.