Matt Banahan could be the answer to England Saxons’ prayers this weekend as they take on Scotland A in Chicago’s Barclays Churchill Cup final.

Not content with finishing the season as the Guinness Premiership’s second highest try scorer with 10 tries the giant Bath wing is determined to go one better on Saturday.

And with five tries against two games against the USA and Ireland A, Banahan is already the tournament’s top try scorer.  But that will count for nothing if he can’t help the team to beat the Scots and retain the title in Saturday’s showdown. 

“Just being a part of this squad has been awesome,” said Banahan.  “When I came out here I was just hoping to be involved.  But now we’re in the final, nothing less than a win will be good enough.  I just want to do whatever I can to help the get that all important win.”

After playing both their pool matches in Canada, Banahan is looking forward to playing on US soil, in the hope that it will prove as fertile for him as it did for his older brother Paul (25).

“It was always my brother’s dream to be a musician.  And it was America that made his dream come true,” said Banahan.

Having been a drummer in a Jersey punk oufit called Bothered Face, Paul and the band travelled to America in the hope of making it big.

“On their first day in America they were in a fast food restaurant and bumped into Eric from the well known American skar band called Sublime.

“They gave him their demo tape and he invited them to tour the West coast with him as their warm up act.  My brother even performed with them when their drummer was ill. 

“They ended up playing the final gig in Los Angeles.  It was like a fairy tale ending for him.” 

And while Paul’s story is proving an inspiration for Matt, it seems Matt’s success has lured his brother off the stage and back on to the pitch. 

“Seeing me play seems to have inspired Paul to get back into rugby.  We’ve done some training together this year and now he’s moving up north to play with Waterloo next season.  I can’t wait to see him play.

“I know he’ll be watching the game on Saturday, hopefully we’ll give him something to be proud of.” 

The Barclays Churchill Cup final takes place on Saturday, June 21, at Toyota Park, Chicago, kick off 2.05pm local time (8.05pm UK time) and is being televised live on Sky Sports 2.

England Saxons team to play Scotland A
Barclays Churchill Cup final
15. Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)*
14. Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
13. Ollie Smith (Leicester Tigers)*
12. Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby)*
11. Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
10. Ryan Lamb (Gloucester Rugby)
9. Paul Hodgson (London Irish)*
1. Alex Clarke (Bristol Rugby)
2. George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)*
3. Jack Forster (Gloucester Rugby)
4. Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)*
5. George Skivington (London Wasps)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
7. Will Skinner (Harlequins, captain)
8. Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)

Replacements
16. Andy Titterrell (Gloucester Rugby)*
17. Tom French (London Wasps)
18. Stuart Hooper (Leeds Carnegie)
19. Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
20. Lee Dickson (Newcastle Falcons)
21. Adrian Jarvis (Harlequins)
22. Ben Foden (Sale Sharks)

* Denotes capped player

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