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14/ 6/2006

SALE Sharks' latest signing Chris Bell hopes joining the Premiership champions will help to thrust him into the international spotlight.

The 23-year-old centre, who left relegated Leeds Tykes to sign a three-year-deal with the Edgeley Park outfit, is currently playing for the England Saxons in the Churchill Cup, but he dreams of one day breaking into the national side's first team.

Sharks players have proved adept at making the step up to playing with England's finest, Magnus Lund the latest Sale player to be given the nod by Andy Robinson.

Bell explained: "Everyone has got international aspirations and I hope that if I move to Sale and break into the first team then I can realise them.

"You can't get much better than joining the champions and I am very fortunate that Sale were interested in me. I have signed a three-year contract so I have to try and repay the fee.

"We were all under contract at Leeds but a lot of us had relegation clauses and that's when you have to think about yourself. It was a purely personal decision for me to advance my career and to move to somewhere like Sale is a great opportunity."

Bell, along with his new club-mate Richard Wigglesworth, started in Saxons' convincing 30-point victory over Churchill Cup hosts Canada.

Bell scored a try in Saturday's 41-11 win, and his five-point contribution was the positive impact he was hoping to have after his premature dive for the try-line cost England victory against Scotland A the previous week.

Bell opted to slide towards the line in the rain-soaked opener, but he stopped short of the whitewash and the ball spilled forward as he hit the ground. It left England Saxons ruing what might have been as Scotland hung on for a 13-7 victory.

Bell said: "At the time it was frustrating but you can't dwell on it. Mistakes do happen and though that was a costly one, I can't let that eat me up."

Bell's international career has stagnated since he was an integral member of the 2004 Under-21s Grand Slam winning side, and he has spent the last two seasons trying to keep newly-relegated Leeds Tykes afloat in the Guinness Premiership.

Last season in particular was tough for Bell.

"I have had an unfortunate season with injuries," he explained.

"I was moved around the backline a lot so I haven't really played in a stable position. I was looking forward to coming away on the tour and getting a couple of games in."