Twitter Talk: Fans clash over Blake Austin’s England selection

Drew Darbyshire

The inclusion of Australian-born half-back Blake Austin in the England Elite Performance Squad has sparked controversy on social media.

The 28-year-old was born and raised in Australia but qualifies to play for England and Great Britain by virtue of his parental grandmother.

Austin – who has scored 19 tries in 24 games for Warrington in 2019 – represented Portugal three times earlier in his teenage years.

He is the only new player in the England Elite Performance Squad. Austin is set to become the fifth overseas-born player to represent England following Rangi Chase, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Chris McQueen and Chris Heighington’s switches of allegiance.

We asked our followers ‘Were England right to select Blake Austin?‘ and here are some of the replies:

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