CHARLIE HODGSON has not yet given up hope of making it to the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The Sale and England stand-off refuses to be written off despite the fact that he will only be fit enough to play his first game after injury when the squad flies out to the southern hemisphere.

Hodgson, who ruptured ligaments in his knee during the Six Nations clash against Italy last season, said: “I know the chances of making the final selection are slim.

“I am aiming to be fit enough to play again by mid-September, and I couldn’t really expect Clive to put me in the squad.

“But the World Cup is a tough competition and injuries do happen.

Training

“I don’t wish injury on anyone, but depending on the position, if someone is hurt, then I will be ready to step in.

“The competition doesn’t start until October, and by that time I am hoping to have a couple of games under my belt.

“I have been training most of the summer, and while most of that has had to be on upper body strength, I can now put pressure on the leg and it seems to be holding up.

“It is now just a case of strengthening it.”

Woodward will name his final squad on September 8, after a series of warm-ups starting with Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.