Tom Homer is prepared to put talk of an England call-up to one side as he focuses domestic duties.
Exiles starlet targets England call-up and top-four finish
Tom Homer is prepared to put talk of an imminent England call-up to one side as he focuses his attention on a top-four tilt with London Irish.
The 21-year-old is being billed as one for the future, with it considered to be only a matter of time before he becomes a regular in the international fold.
He was, however, overlooked for the 2012 RBS Six Nations, with Stuart Lancaster favouring other options.
Homer, whose versatility is expected to help earn him the recognition many feel he deserves, is refusing to read too much into his snub at this juncture.
With a bright future expected to play out in front of him, he is prepared to bide his time and continue doing all he can to catch the eye at club level.
"It is an ambition of mine," Homer told
Sky Sports when asked about the England talk which continues to follow him around.
Focus
"I think everyone wants to play for their country. But for now I'm just focusing on London Irish and making sure we get the wins we need to end the season positively. It's what I want to do but I'm not thinking about it too much at this time.
"Obviously I have got an international No.15 in competition with me here already (Delon Armitage). I'm just looking to play as well as possible and keep on improving. For now I just have to make sure I'm focused on London Irish.
"I have been playing in the league now for four years, so I feel a bit older than 21, but hopefully time is on my side. I am looking to target the 2015 World Cup as a goal to work towards. "
Alex Corbisiero was the only member of the London Irish squad to hear the England call when the latest squad was announced, but Homer is convinced that the likes of Armitage, Topsy Ojo and Shontayne Hape will soon be welcomed back into the fold - while Jamie Gibson is also pushing for a first inclusion.
He said: "I think there are a lot of our boys who are maybe on the fringes of it at the moment. I think there are a few who could force their way in if we continue to do well between now and the end of the season."
The goal for Homer and the Exiles this season is a finish inside the play-off places, with just three points separating them from a top-four standing heading into a crucial derby date with table-topping Harlequins on Saturday.
Homer said: "It's going to be a huge test for us. They are local rivals and we lost against them earlier in the season, so we will be looking for revenge. We want to push on into the top four and we are just on the outside at the moment. It should be a good game and we are looking forward to the challenge.
Improved
"We have already lost to them twice, but we have been close and I think we have improved since then, so we are really looking forward to it.
"We are out of the Heineken Cup and the LV, so the focus now is back on the Aviva Premiership. We are going to do our best to make sure we put ourselves in the top four come the end of the season."
The Exiles narrowly missed out on such a standing last season, but they are more than aware of what it takes to make that step up having made it all the way to the play-off final in 2008/09.
Any hope they have of going one better this time around rests on the outcome of their next nine fixtures, and Homer admits the club's fanatical support could have a key role to play in their efforts to land the biggest prize in English club rugby.
He said: "The supporters will be huge. Having them behind you always helps. We have got some big games coming up at home, like Northampton and Leicester, so they will be important."
During Saturday's Aviva Premiership derby match between Harlequins and London Irish, league sponsors Aviva are continuing their scientific quest to find the league's 'most passionate fans'. For more information, visit www.avivapremiership.com/passionate
