Paul Martin

6 days ago | somersetcountygazette.co.uk | Paul Martin

Arthur Clark is determined to make up for lost time this summer after injury hampered his Six Nations dreams. (Image: The RFU) Arthur Clark is determined to make up for lost time this summer after injury hampered his Six Nations dreams. The Gloucester lock was a late call-up to the England squad who assembled in Girona before this year’s Championship but fractured a bone in his foot in the final training session of the camp.

6 days ago | somersetcountygazette.co.uk | Paul Martin

The flying full-back’s best pal, Tom Roebuck, took his opportunity with both hands against Wales in the Six Nations, scoring an early try in the 68-14 demolition job at Principality Stadium. Carpenter’s fellow Sale Sharks stars Bevan Rodd, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and the Curry twins have also all shone in the white jersey and the 23-year-old hopes to cap another stellar domestic season with his first caps on this summer’s tour of Argentina and the USA. “It would mean everything,” he said.

1 week ago | somersetcountygazette.co.uk | Paul Martin

The Saracens hooker, 24, hopes to add to his 17 England caps in Argentina and the USA in the coming months as Steve Borthwick’s side head across the Atlantic. They are destinations and cultures Dan is keen to soak up on and off the field and he has been tapping up some of his teammates at StoneX Stadium for an inside track. “It would be my first time in Argentina and I’ve never been to the USA either, so it would be an amazing experience,” he said.

1 week ago | somersetcountygazette.co.uk | Paul Martin

The versatile 6ft7in forward had open heart surgery in 2022 after being diagnosed with a dilated aorta, a condition which could have ended his career at the age of 24. Remarkably, within a year he was back making a match-high number of tackles at Allianz Stadium as Saracens defeated Sale Sharks to lift the Premiership trophy and he has continued to deal with the challenges life has thrown at him.

2 weeks ago | somersetcountygazette.co.uk | Paul Martin

The 22-year-old has not played since before Christmas and had shoulder surgery earlier this year but came through the first day of England’s training camp unscathed at Pennyhill Park before returning home to sit an upcoming medical exam. Borthwick was impressed by the winger’s condition, which is still being closely monitored as he nears his return and couldn’t hide his pleasure at seeing the 10-cap starlet training with the squad. “We are delighted to see him back on the grass,” he said.