Joubert keen on England call-up

Saracens No.8 Ernst Joubert is keen to represent England when he qualifies on residency grounds later this year.

The 31-year-old South African will complete his mandatory stay at the end of June, after the summer tour to his homeland, meaning that he will be available for selection by Stuart Lancaster come England's November internationals.

Joubert, an Aviva Premiership winner with Sarries and former Lions representative in Super Rugby, has been inspired by team-mate Mouritz Botha's rise to prominence with England and is hopeful of following in his footsteps.

Ben Morgan, who will join Gloucester from the Scarlets this summer, is England's incumbent No.8, but a player of Joubert's quality is unlikely to go un-noticed.

"It's out of my hands totally but I would very much like to be considered by England, which is my home now," he told The Daily Telegraph. "I love it here, I have played my best rugby here and my part of the equation is to be fit and to be playing well enough to maybe considered.

"I nipped over to Paris for the day with Nigel Wray to watch England beat France at the Stade de France and was inspired by the occasion and the way England played. I thought Ben Morgan, by the way, was fantastic at No.8 for England. There is nothing to say I would even be needed in the squad. But I will definitely be available."

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