RFU to act over Sevens withdrawals

The Rugby Football Union is threatening to take action against clubs who do not release players for international duty after the late withdrawal of three members of the England Sevens squad.

Bath's Iain Balshaw, Henry Paul, of Gloucester, and Harlequins' Ben Gollings have been pulled out of the Sevens tournament in Beijing this weekend so they can represent their clubs.

RFU performance director Chris Spice says the board will have to act against teams who do not co-operate with the national team.

"We had an agreement in principle and some clubs have been supportive of those principles and others haven't been," said Spice. "The board has to act and act decisively against the clubs that haven't been supportive."

In contrast to the players left behind, Phil Greening was settling down in Beijing today as the starting point for his bid to play for England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Greening has played just 20 minutes of rugby in four months because of a broken bone in his right hand and is delighted to be part of England's Sevens squad.

"Warren Gatland, the new director at Wasps, is God for sending me to China with England," said Greening, who has 27 caps.

"It is important for me to get games now. If there is a tour this summer I would like to be on that and then try for the World Cup."

Harlequins' England wing Dan Luger has been cleared to play after an examination of a neck injury and will face Newcastle at the Stoop on Saturday.

Wasps have signed former London Irish full-back Jarrod Cunningham.