Dallaglio: Sign Mark for England

Lawrence Dallaglio today urged England to sign up New Zealand-born full-back Mark van Gisbergen, who scored 26 points to help London Wasps destroy Leicester at Twickenham and lift their third successive Zurich Premiership title.

Van Gisbergen qualifies for England on residency rules in September but Dallaglio wants the Rugby Football Union to clinch the deal now for the goal-kicking full-back.

Dallaglio, who will tomorrow link up with the British and Irish Lions at their Bridgend base in preparation for the tour of New Zealand, said: "Mark's 26 points, including a great try, should be enough to convince those in charge of England to get him signed up. He can produce something special from full-back and I am sure the England management will be getting excited about what he could offer."

The Wasps captain is justifiably proud of the amazing 39-14 victory over a Leicester side that finished top at the end of the regular season but came up short on the final day. For the third year running, Wasps timed their title challenge to perfection, finishing second, winning the play-off semi-final at home and then lifting the trophy at Twickenham to ruin Martin Johnson's farewell.

It was a fitting finale for Warren Gatland, the club's director of rugby, who returns to New Zealand at the end of the month with a CV that should ensure he is made All Blacks coach after the 2007 World Cup.

Gatland will be replaced at Wasps by Ian McGeechan, one of the Lions coaches on this summer's tour, and he will take time during the eight weeks in New Zealand to discuss next season's campaign with Dallaglio. New faces are expected in the front row, including Connacht prop Peter Bracken and All Black hooker Anton Oliver.

Dallaglio said: "The quality of our performance against Leicester was a cut above anything we have produced all season. Josh Lewsey was magnificent playing at centre and he must have given England and the Lions a selection headache because he can play well in any position in the backs. That has to be great news for the tour."

Leicester's Neil Back could miss the Lions matches with Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on 4 June and Taranaki in New Plymouth four days later if he is punished for punching Joe Worsley.