Leicester Tigers' second-row crisis has been eased thanks to England Under-20s head coach Rob Hunter.
Academy product Harry Wells, 19, has been allowed to stay with his club this week instead of joining the England youngsters in preparation for the start of their Six Nations campaign against Scotland.
Hunter had first call over Wells under the terms of the long-term agreement between clubs and country.
But with Tigers missing Graham Kitchener, Geoff Parling, Ed Slater and Louis Deacon to international duty, and Steve Mafi (hamstring), Tom Croft (back) and Tom Price to injury – after the latter was stretchered off during Saturday's 34-8 win over Wasps – England have told Leicester they can keep Wells for this week's final LV= Cup group game at the Llanelli Scarlets.
"That was good of Rob because he had first call and his decision really helps us out," said Tigers' director of rugby Richard Cockerill, who only has Rob Andrew left as an out-and-out second-row.
There was also good news on Price, who was taken to hospital looking badly injured.
Cockerill said tests had shown he had concussion but no major damage after what looked like an horrific neck injury.
The 20-year-old, who was making his full debut, lay prone on the pitch for nine minutes while medics stabilised his conditions and got him on to a stretcher before carrying him off the field.
At the time, there was serious worry over Price's condition with Cockerill saying it "wasn't good" and that he was "struggling".
Yesterday, however, Cockerill allayed people's worst fears and confirmed that Price was set to make a full recovery.
Flanker Tom Croft was also injured in just his second start after nine months out of the game with a neck injury.
He left the field after only nine minutes but, while that was frustrating for a man desperate for game-time, Cockerill said his injury was no more than a muscle spasm after getting a knee in the back.
"There was just a bit of bruising," said Cockerill. "He was a bit tight in the area between his hip and his spine.
"He couldn't deal with the spasm and it was too tight for him to carry on.
"It was just bad luck and one of those things. He needed to play some games but it was nothing serious and just a bang."
Tigers kept their momentum going after the five-try win over Wasps in front of nearly 20,000
Vereniki Goneva scored two tries on his comeback from a knee injury and there were also scores for Logovi'i Mulipola, Michael Noone and, the pick of the bunch, from Mat Tait.
"It was tough after last week's win over Toulouse and then having lots of guys go away on international duty," said Cockerill.
"We were a bit disjointed but some guys got to play and we go to Scarlets with half a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals."
