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WORCESTER Warriors players have been overlooked by England and England Saxons for the forthcoming tours to New Zealand and North Am-erica.

Wing wonders Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey can consider themselves especially unlucky to miss out as they had been tipped for berths in the Saxons' Barclays Churchill Cup squad.

Saxons head coach Steve Bates admitted the Worcester wide men came close to winning selection.

He said: "Wing was one of the most competitive positions. There was lots of competition in that position and certainly Benjamin and Garvey were considered.

"If they continue to play like they have been recently, the competition will only get hotter. The selections we've made reflect the season and who has been playing consistently well.

"The squad is full of bright young prospects and we're going with expectations of repeating last year's success," said Bates, who believes that Premiership experience could be the vital ingredient in the Saxons' recipe for success."

Former Sixways hooker Dylan Hartley, now with Northampton Saints, has been called into the full England squad for next month's tour to New Zealand.

He will be joined in Martin Johnson's squad by former Worcester academy star and Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway. Leicester Tigers' ex-Warriors lock Richard Blaze has been included in the Saxons squad.

5:45pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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