Leicester No.8 Thomas Waldrom has admitted he was surprised to receive the call to join up with England's World Cup squad.
New Zealand-born No.8 to team up with England squad
Leicester No.8 Thomas Waldrom has admitted he was surprised to receive the call to join up with England's World Cup squad.
The New Zealand-born forward was told by Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill he would be heading to Dunedin after arriving at Leicester's Oval Park training base on Monday.
Waldrom will provide cover for Nick Easter, who is struggling with a back injury and missed Sunday's 41-10 victory over Georgia.
And the 28-year-old, who was part of England's initial training squad for the tournament, was shocked by the news.
"It was a swell feeling and I had to rush home and tell my wife what was happening," Waldrom told the
Leicester Mercury.
Cover
"I am going out as cover so it's difficult to know what might happen. We will just have to wait and see."
Leicester boss Cockerill is now waiting to see what England's plans are for Waldrom, with the possibility he could also remain in New Zealand as a replacement for Andrew Sheridan should Easter recover.
"At this moment in time, he has gone as cover this week and they (England) will make a decision about him after the game at the weekend (versus Romania)," Cockerill added.
"They could swap him for (injured) Andrew Sheridan and he wouldn't come back at all.
"If Easter is fit though, Thomas may come back after the weekend."
