England
Semesa Rokoduguni excited to relaunch England career
PA Sport
July 11, 2015
Semesa Rokoduguni trains with England
Semesa Rokoduguni trains with England© (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Semesa Rokoduguni is set for the second phase of an eventful pre-World Cup journey this weekend after being given a chance to relaunch his England career.

The Fiji-born Bath wing initially missed out on a place in England's 50-man World Cup training squad, but David Strettle's decision to take up early residency in France with new club Clermont Auvergne created an opportunity for Rokoduguni.

He was back in Fiji on holiday when the call came, and after an initial training camp at England's Surrey base, he will now jet off to Colorado with a 45-player England group as the countdown continues to head coach Stuart Lancaster announcing his final 31-man World Cup party late next month.

The man on a sabbatical from the British Army made his Test debut against the All Blacks last November but injury then contributed to him drifting out of contention, and he presently remains a member of international rugby's one-cap club.

Now Rokoduguni faces a battle against Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell, Jonny May, Chris Ashton and Marland Yarde to make the final World Cup squad.

"I didn't expect a call-up, and then I get a phone call to say there is an opportunity for me to get back in the squad," he said. "It was disappointing to miss out, but to get the phone call was pretty exciting.

"I was in one of the hotels in Fiji - the Mana Island Resort - when I got the call. I had planned a couple of days there and then go back to the village with my family, but it was a case of 'you need to go, you need to get your stuff and go to the plane'.

"It has been one of those journeys. Everything was happening, and then suddenly there was a pause. It has been really frustrating, but coming back into the squad has been exciting.

"It is similar to what we do in [military] training - the mental side to deal with setbacks. We are taught to be flexible at all times, and this was useful for this situation."

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