England
England Rugby World Cup players 'pathetic' for backing RFU policy, says Nick Abendanon
ESPN Staff
November 3, 2015
Nick Abendanon
Nick Abendanon© Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

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Nick Abendanon has called England's Rugby World Cup players "pathetic" for backing the RFU's policy of not picking overseas players.

The Clermont Auvergne fullback was not considered for the tournament due to where he plies his trade, despite being the current European player of the year.

England coach Stuart Lancaster did not feel the cases of either Abendanon or Steffon Armitage met the "exceptional circumstances" clause, yet the former Bath man believes they would have raised the level of competition within the squad.

"To have that competition, to have someone who's been playing at the top level in France and in Europe, come in and maybe teach the guys a few things, really make sure the other players are threatened for their place and pick themselves up another level, for me that's only a good thing," the fullback told BT Sport's Rugby Tonight.

"You know, he never had to pick us but I think he should've brought the guys in to make sure that his players pick it up another level.

"To hear some players say 'ah we shouldn't pick international players because it will unsettle the squad', I mean that to me is pathetic, that should be something that would motivate you even more to want to keep your place."

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