Exeter's Skinner aiming for England recognition

Harvey Skinner started all of Exeter's Premiership and European Champions Cup matches last season

Exeter fly-half Harvey Skinner is aiming to force himself into the England reckoning this season.

The 26-year-old will make his 100th Exeter appearance in all competitions when he faces Leicester in the opening round of the Premiership this weekend.

The homegrown 10, who succeeded Joe Simmonds as Chiefs' first-choice fly-half last season, hopes he can help guide Exeter to success - and, with that, some international recognition.

"I've still got aspirations that I want to play internationally and be pushing [for that] 10 shirt," he told BBC Sport.

"I've just got to play well for my club, if the team's doing well you're likely to get looked at for an England shirt."

The fly-half position has been one of the most hotly-contested areas of the field for England in the past decade with the likes of Owen Farrell, George Ford and, latterly, Marcus Smith being the frontrunners for selection.

That depth of talent meant Skinner's predecessor Simmonds - who led Exeter to a Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020 - never received a call-up for England despite impressive performances at home and abroad for his club.

"When you play your opposite man who's in that England shirt already I think it's putting a marker down on them to say 'I'm here, keep a look out'," he said.

"I'll have chats with the coaches to see if they've heard anything, how they think you can improve and what next steps you need to take.

"If you play well for your club you're going to get talked about and you're going to make it hard for them not to pick you."

With the resurrection of the England 'A' side last season there were more opportunities for players of Skinner's ilk to try and impress the England coaches.

Skinner was in contention for a call-up for the 'A' side, but was eventually overlooked.

But he says he would gladly take up the chance to experience a national team set-up.

He added: "Once you're in that sort of environment they're always going to be looking to see how you then adapt in that environment - are you going to flourish?

"So I'd like to be in that sort of environment playing well and showcasing what I'm about."