Magnus in dream-Lund

Sale Sharks forward Magnus Lund has described his England call-up as “a dream come true”.

The uncapped Manchester-born flanker only made his Sale debut in 2002, but a series of dominant displays during the Sharks’ rise to the Guinness Premiership summit offered an irresistible case for selection in head coach Andy Robinson’s Six Nations training squad.

“Who would have thought at the start of the season that by mid-January, Sharks would be top of the Premiership, top of Pool One in the Heineken Cup and I would be called up to join the England training squad?” said the 22-year-old.

“It has all come as a bit of a shock, but I am obviously delighted.”

Lund will find himself in illustrious company when the 36-man England group assembles for training at Loughborough University on Sunday night.

Featuring alongside him during the two-day gathering will be former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who has been recalled to the international arena after retiring from Test rugby 17 months ago.