Pat Lam explains why Joe Batley will not captain England A against the All Blacks XV View Image

Pat Lam has revealed why Bristol Bears lock Joe Batley will not captain England A against the All Blacks XV on Saturday, having initially been announced to do so.

Batley’s attempts to pull on the red rose in the last year have come with a series of challenges, arriving at international camp last Autumn with a broken leg, sustained in the 10-10 draw with Australia A playing for the Bears the week before, to get sent home to recover. A toe injury in January then ruled the 29-year-old out of the clash with Ireland during the Six Nations window, and then a knee injury in the Gallagher PREM semi-final defeat to Bath sidelined the Bears’ second row for the senior side’s summer tour to Argentina an

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