Worcester Warriors director of rugby, John Brain, has urged the England hierarchy to take more notice of some of the club's leading performers.
After the Sixways side defied all the odds and dodged relegation to end their first Premiership season in ninth place and, more importantly, book a seat at rugby's top table for a second season, Brain believes it is time his players started getting the international recognition they deserve.
The have only one player who played any part in the most recent Six Nations championship, Scotland winger-cum-centre Ben Hinshelwood, who made a single appearance as a replacement against Italy.
Skipper Pat Sanderson earned a recall to the England set-up last week after leading Worcester from the front but, as things stand, they are the only two active internationals in Brain's squad.
Even Sanderson's return from the international wilderness has come by virtue of the fact that the Red Rose's leading back-row men are all away with the British Lions this summer and therefore unable to go with the Churchill Cup squad to Canada.
The fact that he has been asked to be tour captain suggests he could play some part in next season's autumn internationals, but Brain wants more. "It would be nice for the players to get some recognition," he said.
One such man is second row Craig Gillies who has led every line-out category in the league this season and is ready, according to Brain, to make the step up to international rugby.
He said: "Craig has developed a lot in that area. It is a big surprise for me that he is not involved with England in the Churchill Cup. Maybe they don't look at our players too closely, perhaps they should. Pat [Sanderson] has been a stand-out player and for him to be captaining that side is an honour for the club.
"But there are one or two players, and he [Gillies] is definitely one of them, who had a good case for going on that tour. He has won more line-outs than anyone else in the Premiership and that speaks volumes, his game has developed no end."
One player almost certain to win a first cap next season is prop Chris Horsman. Steadfastly ignored by England coach Andy Robinson, who only sees him as fourth or fifth-choice tighthead, he may now play for Wales instead.
He qualifies for the Grand Slam winners by residence later this month and could well go on the Red Dragons' summer tour of North America.
His club boss, however, is not impressed. "I'm English and I want him to play for England," Brain said.
