Sampson set for American adventure

Paul Sampson will take a Transatlantic route into England's Test team this month instead of migrating north for a summer season in rugby league.

As reward for running riot in the Premiership from full back, the turbocharged Wasp will be in pole position on a Lions-free grid in North America when he would otherwise have been negotiating a temporary St Helens stint.

This time he travels business-class in every sense, unlike previous England experiences. The first, as a bewildered 18-year-old plucked from the sixth form into Will Carling's Five Nations squad, was six years ago and was made no less bewildering by the initial inquiry from then manager, Jack Rowell: 'Who are you?'

The second, in Cape Town three years later, was marginally less surreal. England, on the last leg of their Tour To Hell, had run out of wings and Sampson, in situ for an Under 21 tournament, provided a convenient solution.

He played, marked his 21st birthday two days later by breaking an ankle and disappeared from view. While six of that team were never heard of again as international players, Sampson was inspired by the experience.

He said: 'I never wanted to be a one - cap wonder. I wanted to prove that I could really contribute at the highest level.'

With England stripped of four Lions wings for two Tests in Canada and one in America, Sampson was always going to be next in line after Dan Luger, Ben Cohen, Austin Healey and Jason Robinson, which explained why he decided against exercising a clause in his Wasps contract allowing him a temporary return to league.

Sampson said: 'Going to St Helens, the best league team in the world, would have been a possibility had England not required me. But you've got to keep your options open.'

Ironically, the 23- year- old Yorkshireman would not have been available had Wakefield Wildcats not gone belly-up last summer. Sampson had signed for two years having left Wasps last winter to follow the family's league tradition set by dad Brian, uncles Malcolm and David, plus cousin Dean - a Great Britain Test player. Eight months later he was back in union with Wasps.

He said: 'I didn't appreciate it at the time but Wakefield's financial problem turned out a bit of a blessing in disguise. It certainly made me appreciate the quality of professionalism at Wasps.'