SALE Sharks' meteoric rise through the rugby union ranks has finally made an international impact.

Players who have been passed over for selection time and again are now being given their chance as the Edgeley Park outfit prepare for the biggest game in their history on Saturday against Leicester at Twickenham in the Guinness Premiership final.

The latest round of international action sees back row Magnus Lund called up to the full England squad to tour Australia in the summer along with lock forward Chris Jones and hooker Andrew Titterrell, while unsung heroes Dean Schofield, Stuart Turner and Richard Wigglesworth have all been selected for the A team tour to Canada.

Prop Andrew Sheridan was ruled out of the summer tour Down Under due to injury, while both Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto are being rested after a gruelling season.

Back row forward Jason White will once again captain Scotland while there were also call-ups for French due Sebastien Chabal and Sebastien Bruno during the Six Nations championship.

Before the emergence of Sharks as a major force in the game, the side were always limited to just a handful of internationals.

But that has all changed now that the Sharks have soared to the top of the club rugby tree.

And, as one would expect from the side which finished top of the Guinness Premier League table, the vast majority of the team now have international experience at some level.

Deserving

Lund has been knocking at England's door and took a step nearer his goal with a silver medal at this year's Commonwealth Games Sevens tournament in Australia.

And he has now been given his shot at the big time just in time to prove his worth for the World Cup in 2007.

Titterrell and Jones are equally deserving, having performed well in their previous outings, but never being allowed any continuity by the selectors.

But no-one is more deserving of international recognition than Schofield, Turner and Wigglesworth, who have performed at a consistently high level for Sharks over the years without being paid much attention.

Schofield has been a tower of strength in the second row and Turner has worked tirelessly in the front row since his arrival.

Wigglesworth, a former England Under-21 star, has not yet managed to establish himself in the first team, but always brings a game to life when given the chance.

Schofield said: "It's often the way that some players can be producing good performances day in, day out, but if the club are not doing well, you don't get noticed.

"With Sale doing so well at the moment, players are finally getting the recognition they deserve at international level and the side are now packed with players who represent their country.

"I am really looking forward to getting out to Canada, and I know that Stuart and Richard are as well.

"It's just a case of making the most of your chances." Tweet