Stevie Ward says he could play for Wales or England at World Cup
Wednesday 26 April 2017 09:53, UK
Leeds forward Stevie Ward says he could play for Wales in the World Cup but insists his priority is to force his way into the England side.
The Rhinos back rower was a late call-up for the 2016 Four Nations Series but did not play and this week missed out on selection for England's mid-season game against Samoa.
He is still in England coach Wayne Bennett's 30-strong elite training squad and believes a strong second half to the regular Super League season could help him press his claims for a place this summer.
The 23-year-old, who inherited Kevin Sinfield's number-13 jersey when the former Leeds and England captain retired, said: "I want to be playing in Australia at the end of the year.
"My mother's Welsh - she's from Wrexham - and that's something that can always be looked at but the optimum thing for me is to be there with England and playing to the best of my ability.
"I'd have fancied my chances this time a bit more if I had been fit coming up to that game (against Samoa) but I do know that decisions are made a lot later in the year for what's going to go on.
"The only thing I can do is play well for Leeds and, if I'm in their plans at the end of the year, then brilliant."
Ward, who recovered from major knee surgery to play the last four matches of the 2016 season with the Rhinos, cancelled a holiday in America with his team-mate Adam Cuthbertson to answer a call from Bennett in the autumn but does not hold a grudge for missing out on selection.
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"It was a little disappointing. I probably wasn't in the best physical shape to go down and do the training because I was just coming back from the ACL injury but it was a good experience to be in the fold and it can only help me in the future."
Ward's injury problems continued this year when he was sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring strain but he played both games over Easter before being rested for Leeds' Challenge Cup tie against Doncaster and will be back for Thursday's home game against Huddersfield, which is live on Sky Sports.
The Rhinos will go top of the table if they can complete the double over the Giants, who are in the bottom four after failing to win any of their last eight league games.
