Bath prop Duncan Bell has revealed his determination to play international rugby for Wales.
Bell has withdrawn from England A duty, having been offered a place on the bench against France A in Perpignan this weekend.
The ex-Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale forward will concentrate instead on trying to clinch a Wales squad place.
He qualifies for Wales on residency grounds in May, just before Wales' summer tour to Argentina and South Africa.
"From my perspective, it seemed nonsensical to sit on the bench and possibly not even get on when it would mean a potential international career over," said the 29-year-old.
"It was a real honour to be selected, but at this moment in my career, I didn't feel it was in my best interests."
Bell was called up by the England A coaching staff after his Bath colleague David Flatman pulled out of the Perpignan trip through injury.
But Bell, a cornerstone of the Bath pack this season, has had encouraging conversations with Wales coach Steve Hansen and team manager Alan Phillips, and will now focus on a possible international career in the red jersey.
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