Furbank: I don't plan to be 2-cap wonder

WITH the groin strain that curtailed his Six Nations fully healed, England and Northampton full-back George Furbank is desperate to re-establish his Test credentials.

- NEALE HARVEY

Furbank has used lockdown to take in the enormity of his international baptism while getting his body right.

The result is a fired-up individual who knows he must overcome stiff competition in his own club before adding to the caps he won against France and Scotland.

Furbank, who has not played since enduring the Murrayfield monsoon on February 8, told The Rugby Paper: “It’s been great to be out training with the boys at Saints again, throwing a ball about and doing some serious running.

“It was an overload injury in my groin that flared-up in the Ireland Test week, so these last few months have been really good to give that a reset and do some strength work.

“I did it originally during our first Treviso week in Europe and was managing it, but I feel like I’m on top of it now and hope it stays that way when the loading increases.”

Although nearly five months have elapsed since his Test debut in Paris, Furbank, 23, admits his ascension from club player to full international still feels surreal. However, that has only hardened his determination to press for further honours.

Furbank explained: “It was a dream and even now when we’ve been doing video messages with people during lockdown and they introduce me as ‘England and Saints full-back George Furbank,’ I still find that really weird.