Former NRL player Ben Te’o is shaping as an England squad bolter, ahead of the June Test series against the Wallabies.
The UK’s Daily Mail is reporting that Te’o has been in regular contact with England coach Eddie Jones, keen to work his way into the England outfit.
Te’o, whose mother was born and raised in England, has been playing in Leinster for the past two seasons so wasn’t considered for England selection, but a new contract with Worcester has changed that.
The 29-year-old has previously represented Samoa in Rugby League and played seven State of Origin matches for Queensland through an eight-year NRL career.
His move to the Warriors, which begins at the end of the current Premiership campaign, was reportedly made with a Test debut in mind.
Te’o has previously voiced his desire to play Test Rugby, though never where he wanted to play.
Te’o is a bullocking centre not entirely dissimilar to his former South Sydney teammate Sam Burgess, who had a controversial Rugby World Cup campaign for England before returning to the NRL after one season away.
Burgess had plenty of praise for Te’o.
“He is an amazing athlete, very aggressive and focused on his role,’ he told the Daily Mail.
“‘He is hard-working and selfless.”
