Spencer confident Tigers can ignite bid for England

SECOND ROW enforcer Will Spencer is redoubling his efforts to make a Test breakthrough after being cruelly denied the chance to tour South Africa.

Spencer had been in line for an England call after an impressive season for Worcester. However, a toe injury sustained against Wasps last month means the Leicester-bound powerhouse has set his sights on another sustained bid next season. Spencer, 26, told The

Rugby Paper: “It’s disappointing because if I had remained fully fit to the end of the season I’d have had a good chance of being involved.

“I’d spoken quite a lot to (England forwards coach) Steve Borthwick and he’d been reviewing my games so I’d like to think I wasn’t a million miles away.

“I’d have loved to have been on that tour to South Africa because it will be a good opportunity for a lot of guys to force their way in and show Eddie Jones what they can do, but I’ll come back from this stronger when I get to Leicester next month.”

While Spencer must look on as the likes of Jonny Hill and Nick Isiekwe stake claims against the Springboks, he is motivated by the prospect of helping Leicester restore their place at the pinnacle of English rugby after missing out on the playoffs.

He said: “Leicester want to be competing and winning things and that’s where my ambitions lie. You look at their teams down the years and they’ve had big, physical, no-nonsense guys in their pack who run hard and hit hard – and that’s what I try to do.

“It’s been emotional to leave Worcester because they’ve been brilliant for me and from a rugby point of view it’s the happiest two years I’ve had, but to be part of such an iconic club as Leicester is huge and it’s a move that jumped out at me.”

Spencer predicts a brighter future for his old club, though. He added: “Stability has been Worcester’s biggest problem but their academy is fantastic and with the squad they’ve assembled for next year, I’m sure they will be a much stronger team.”