24 May 2014

England fullback fit for NZ tour

6:38 am on 24 May 2014

England rugby bosses have welcomed some good news ahead of their troubled tour here next month - their fullback Mike Brown has declared himself fit for the first Test against the All Blacks on June 7th.

Coach Stuart Lancaster has had a number of selection headaches with his number one first five Owen Farrell unavailable for the first test because he's involved in the final of the English Premiership, and the other number 10 George Ford will miss the tour because of a shoulder injury.

England also have an injury crisis at hooker. Tom Youngs is not touring because his wife is ill, New Zealand-born Dylan Hartley and Rob Webber have shoulder and knee injuries respectively, and two other forwards Alex Corbisiero and Tom Croft have been told to rest after only recently returning from long-term injuries.