Ashton waits on clubs’ decision

ENGLAND head coach Brian Ashton will learn over the next two days how many of his team to face Ireland at Croke Park will feature in Guinness Premiership action this weekend.

On Tuesday, Ashton named his side for the RBS 6 Nations trip to Dublin on February 24, in the hope it would persuade clubs to rest those players included in the starting line-up.

The policy has met with mixed success. Newcastle’s Jonny Wilkinson will miss Saturday’s clash with Bristol while most of Leicester’s international contingent will not be asked to start against Worcester.