England will keep the door open for Jason Robinson's possible return to international rugby this season.
A year after Sale Sharks captain Robinson quit the Test arena, there remains a strong possibility he could feature again before England's 2007 World Cup defence.
The 32-year-old has already indicated he might rethink his retirement decision if England come calling, although that would be unlikely to happen ahead of this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship, which kicks off in February.
'I know Jason has expressed an interest in playing for England again,' said England head coach Andy Robinson, following his elite squad's three-day training camp at Loughborough University.
'But the timing has got to be right for Jason. At the moment, he is not fully available to play international rugby.'
World Cup-winner Robinson captained England in his final season of Test rugby, calling time after collecting 35 caps and scoring 22 tries during a four-and-a-half-year international career that also included two Lions tours.
The former rugby league star would relish working with England's new attack supremo Brian Ashton, who is part of a new-look coaching support staff alongside John Wells and Mike Ford.