MARK WILSON can kiss goodbye to his England ambitions if he follows Newcastle Falcons into the Championship – but Will Greenwood reckons he’ll stay put regardless.

Simon Hammersley, Chris Harris and Vereniki Goneva have all been linked with moves elsewhere as the Kingston Park side sink into the second tier for the first time since 2013.

England star Wilson, who has totted up 13 caps since breaking into the England team last autumn, has been heavily linked with a loan move to Sale Sharks while Falcons aim to return to the top tier.

“You can’t play for England in the Championship,” said Greenwood, speaking on behalf of NatWest, the Official Banking Partner of England Rugby.

“You could in the old days, Wade Dooley played in Division Four North for Preston Grasshoppers and still got picked.

“You might be playing Hartpury College in the Championship – that’s not undermining their commitment and endeavour – but your rival for the jersey might be playing against Clermont, or at Northampton, or Gloucester.

“It’s not impossible but that’s one of those things. We’ll have to see what Mark decides to do.

“He’s very loyal, he came through the Falcons academy, but I don’t think anyone would argue or suggest he’s anything but the most loyal blokes on the planet, if he left.”

Wilson penned a fresh four-year deal with Falcons in January, committing his future to his boyhood club where he made his senior debut in 2010.

Eddie Jones has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in the back row with Billy Vunipola, Brad Shields and Courtney Lawes just some of the players Wilson will have to keep out of the team.

Greenwood, speaking at a coaching day with players from the NatWest Grassroots Barbarians at Leicester Forest RFC, feels he’s ill-equipped to do so for the second tier but will stick to his guns.

“I’m not sure what registration policies are, but he won’t go to Sale because he wouldn’t get in the South African side,” said Greenwood.

“Mark is 30, he’ll go to this World Cup. He’s a proud northerner, he loves his club.

“On occasion there are decisions you make in life that you take and wonder what will allow me to be happy, enjoy my rugby.

“There will be a massive pull towards staying and my instinct is that he will.”

NatWest is the Official Banking Partner of England Rugby. This year NatWest RugbyForce is making it easier for grassroots clubs to access rugby through its NatWest Grassroots Barbarians initiative, offering grassroots players the chance to play at Twickenham on June 9th. @NatWest_Rugby