Reihana backs England call-up for Saints duo
Bruce Reihana says Saints team-mates Chris Ashton and Ben Foden should have been running riot for England long before now.
Ashton and Foden finally supplanted their superb Premiership form in an England shirt in last month's tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Despite England's bad form and the Saints pair putting in stand-out showings all last season, it took until the final Six Nations game before boss Martin Johnson finally saw the light and started with them against France.
Foden scored a try on that occasion and their performances persuaded Johnson to stick with them in the two Tests against Australia, with Ashton rewarding him with a first try in the second Test 21-20 win over the Wallabies.
They now look cemented in the England back three for the coming season and Reihana says it is just reward for their hard work.
The former All Black said: "It was about time they got recognised. They should have been there in the Six Nations. But they got their reward at the end of the year and it was great for them.
"They proved to themselves as well that they should be in those spots."
Reihana is now looking forward to teaming up with Ashton and Foden in the back three for Saints as the build-up to the new Premiership season continues.
And the pair will be looking to continue their top form not only to push Saints to a first Premiership title, but to retain their England spots.
The 34-year-old said: "No doubt they're going to come back and be pushing hard, striving to get back to be fitter and bigger and looking to prove themselves again. This will be good for them and the players around them."
Meanwhile, Premiership Rugby have agreed a four-year sponsorship deal with insurance company Aviva worth 20m, starting immediately.
The terms of the arrangement will see Aviva replace Guinness as sponsors of the rebranded English top flight, which will now be called Aviva Premiership Rugby.
Aviva will also inject significant investment into community programmes.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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