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England and Stade in Haskell row

James Haskell has been retained by the England camp © Getty Images

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England flanker James Haskell has become the subject of a club v country row.

His club, Stade Français, have requested his release from the England squad for their Top 14 'Classico' game against Toulouse at the Stade de France this weekend, but Martin Johnson has opted to retain his full starting XV from the defeat to Ireland for training this week.

The RFU confirmed that Haskell's contract secured his availability for all Elite Player Squad windows and that they were not bound to release him for club duty.

"We have contacted the English Federation to ask them to release Haskell," Stade owner Max Guazzini told AFP. "We have also contacted the player to ask him to return here immediately. Stade Français is not an English club, and is not bound by this agreement.

"We were very generous before the start of the tournament for the training sessions. But this, this is the 'Classico' with Toulouse at the Stade de France, this is not just another match for the club. The coaches can take the decision as to whether he plays or not, but he must at the very least be available for selection."

England are also sweating over the fitness of lock Simon Shaw and fullback Delon Armitage as they prepare to face Scotland at Murrayfield on March 13.

Both players were forced from the field during the defeat to Ireland, with Shaw now awaiting the results of a scan on his left a/c joint and Armitage confirmed to have suffered rib cartilage damage. The England management gave no timetable for either player's recovery but did draft Northampton fullback Ben Foden and Leicester lock Louis Deacon into their training squad for the coming week.

Foden, Deacon and Bath tight-head David Wilson join last weekend's starting side at their Pennyhill Park camp, with the remainder of the squad released for Guinness Premiership action.

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