Rugby Union: Rory Underwood ready for an England return

ONE MORE of England's senior warhorses has found the whiff of battle irresistible. Flt Lt Rory Underwood's retirement proved temporary last night when he announced that the Royal Air Force had deferred a flying course and that he would be available for England again after next month's match against Canada.

The 29-year-old wing, England's record try-scorer with 35 in 55 internationals, could then return against South Africa at Twickenham in November and will also be free to tour New Zealand with the British Lions next summer. His appetite for Test rugby having been so dramatically restored, he will almost certainly join national-squad training in London this weekend.

'I had been growing increasingly tired of the travelling, training and the time I spent away from my wife and family,' Underwood said. 'It had been a very hard two years, starting with the Lions tour of Australia and including an England tour of Australia and Fiji, two Grand Slams and a World Cup. I still loved playing rugby, but other aspects of the game were becoming a chore. Having decided to step down from international rugby I applied, and was subsequently selected, for an intensive fast-jet course at RAF Chivenor which starts in November.'

Underwood, who has played on this season for Leicester, added: 'About a month ago, after a summer without rugby, I started to reassess the situation and talk things over again with my wife. England have achieved great things in recent years, achievements of which I'm intensely proud. Playing for your country is the greatest honour in the game.

'I asked myself whether I had to leave it behind. I decided that perhaps I didn't. After speaking with my flight controller and station boss, and making a couple of telephone calls, I wrote to request a deferment of my fast-jet course. The RAF have always been incredibl supportive throughout my career. Their willingness to accommodate my request has been an important factor in my decision. There are some tremendous challenges ahead. No side has ever won three consecutive Grand Slams and a Lions team has not been successful in New Zealand since 1971.'

After a notably unproductive start to his international career, Underwood has matured into such a potent finisher, scoring 31 tries in his last 33 games, that he must be as good as certain of a recall, even though someone else will have to play on the left wing against Canada. That someone will, barring mishaps, be his own younger brother, Tony, but one of them will have to move to the right against the Springboks. Both prefer the left, though Rory has helped out England on the right in the past.

Geoff Cooke, the England and 1993 Lions manager, said: 'I'm delighted he has had second thoughts. England and the Lions, if he is selected, can only benefit from his skill and experience. He stepped down at the height of his powers and has probably played better in the last 20 months than ever before. The players are deciding that you are a long time retired and that if you can devote the time, international rugby is a worthwhile pastime. Despite the predicted mass retirements last season we now seem to have lost only Paul Ackford from the World Cup squad and Simon Halliday from the Grand Slam team.'

(Photograph omitted)