England hold court on Barkley's future

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Bath's 26-year-old goalkicker went into the dock at Aylesbury magistrates court to plead not guilty to assaulting a fellow guest at a wedding in the summer.

After opting for a crown court trial before a jury, Barkley was granted unconditional bail to return to the same court for a committal hearing.

The date, Monday February 11, is the day after England's Six Nations match against Italy in Rome during the second round of the championship.

England head coach Brian Ashton said: 'I have not yet had time to think about the repercussions. I need to sit down with Olly and have a chat with him.'

A decision must be made in the next eight days.

Ashton will name England's 32-man squad for the Six Nations tomorrow week and Barkley, a World Cup regular before injury ruled him out of the knock-out stages, would be a strong contender on current form as a central figure in Bath's resurgence.

Ireland hooker Rory Best is expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations after a scan showed that the ankle he injured on Boxing Day was only sprained.