Matt Stevens backed to earn England recall in Six Nations

10/08/2010

Matt Stevens has been backed to play in front of people with Six Nations tickets next year by his new coach Brendan Venter.

The South Africa-born prop was slapped with a two-year ban for recreational cocaine use and was kicked out of previous club Bath, only to join Saracens halfway through his suspension.

Despite Stevens' off-field troubles, Venter has claimed that the 27-year-old still has the ability to break back into the national side when his ban finishes - and that fans with Six Nations tickets could be some of the first people to see him back in action.

"I think he can play himself into the Six Nations reckoning with England," Venter was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying. "He is a very special individual, a talented person."

Since making his England debut back in 2003 against New Zealand, Stevens has gone on to represent his adopted country 32 times and has also toured with the British and Irish Lions.

Posted by Liz Johnstone