Premiership dilemma for Andy Robinson

SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson will not rule out England-based players from his 2011 World Cup squad if the Premiership forbids them to join Scotland's summer training camp, but he admitted that it would make it "tough" for them to earn selection.

Robinson, who yesterday named eight Premiership players in a 34-man squad for the autumn Tests, raised the issue of player release by Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) after several players were forced out of a tour warm-up with Japan in June.

Despite PRL insisting this week that they will not release players to Scotland until August 4 - six weeks after the squad are due to convene and two days before they face Ireland in the first of two warm-ups - Robinson is hopeful of movement, without the RFU tactic of offering money (110m over four years] to English clubs for more international squad time.

He said: "We've asked for the players to be released earlier and those discussions are ongoing, but we will not be paying for the release of players. I'm not going to discount any player if we don't have that release, but it makes it tougher for them in terms of preparation. We are having good discussions with the PRL, RFU and IRB and hope for a positive outcome."