England and Leicester Tigers prop Ellis Genge is hoping to return to action for the national side as Eddie Jones’ men look to build on their 2018 NatWest 6 Nations campaign.
The powerful 23-year-old front row missed out on playing during the Championship due to shoulder surgery but has since put in a string of impressive performances for his club side.
Genge made his England debut in 2016 and has since won five caps, the last of which came against Samoa in November 2017.
The former Bristol man is now hoping his end-of-season form will see him onto the plane for England’s three-test tour of South Africa in June.
“I’d love to have featured in that Championship,” said Genge. “I’m yet to taste that competition but fingers crossed if I keep working hard that I will get that chance.
“I’d love a seat on that plane (to South Africa). I’m not going to say I’ve got my ticket but I feel as though I’ve played well since coming back.
“It’s in someone else’s hands now. Maybe Eddie (Jones) will have a different view of how I’ve played.
“Coming off the back off a disappointing end to the season with Leicester it would be great to go out there and play against South Africa.
“The history between the two countries is amazing and it would be great to be a part of that and part of the England squad as well.
“Nothing is for certain, I just need to keep working hard and I’d be over the moon and delighted if I was given that opportunity.”
During the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations England were unable to defend their crown from 2017, eventually finishing fifth in the table.
But there were plenty of positives, including wins over Wales and Italy, and Genge believes the squad will use their disappointment as motivation for the rest of 2018.
He added: “I wasn’t a part of the campaign but I’m sure the boys aren’t going to dwell on that. I think they’ll be using it as fuel.
“One thing I know about the boys is that the defeats in the Championship is not where we’re at, we’re much more capable than that.
“We had an incredible unbeaten run. Hopefully we can go to South Africa and right some wrongs.”
