The manner of Fletcher's departure prompted an angry response from Newcastle's England international Toby Flood who, like Mathew Tait, has decided to leave the club in the summer.

Newcastle finished the season 11th in the Guinness Premiership, one place above relegated Leeds, and need a strong summer recruitment programme to avoid the drop next year.

Bates hopes much of that will be at least be under way before he takes the Saxons to the Barclays Churchill Cup at the beginning of June.

''I think this is a great opportunity for me to learn about what other people are doing, what other players are like and what other coaches are up to. It is a valuable experience,'' said Bates.

''Realistically, most clubs are dormant in June and hopefully we will have recruited some players before then and I am looking forward to the Churchill Cup.

''It gives us a great opportunity to look at how our players (at Newcastle) compare with other players.''

England will head out to north America as defending champions after their victory over the New Zealand Maori in the final at Twickenham.

And Bates will be in charge of a strong squad, which includes the likes of Leicester winger Tom Varndell, Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb and London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson who were unfortunate to miss out on senior selection.

Bates will be impressing on his squad how top-quality performances at the Churchill Cup will help press their claims for inclusion in England's elite player squad for next season.

''You have to get yourself into the Saxons squad if you want to progress and that pathway has been really well established now,'' said Bates.

''The second 32 is actually very important because players can move up and down that ladder.''

England have been grouped with Ireland A and the USA with the finals day in Chicago on June 21.

England Saxons Barclays Churchill Cup squad

Forwards
Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
Richard Blaze (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Brown (Gloucester Rugby)**
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)**
Alex Clarke (Bristol Rugby)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Forster (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Guest (Harlequins)
Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)**
Nick Lloyd (Saracens)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Will Skinner (Harlequins) Captain
George Skivington (London Wasps)
Andy Titterrell (Gloucester Rugby)**
Rob Webber (London Wasps)
Dave Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
 
Backs
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)**
Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby)**
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Lee Dickson (Newcastle Falcons)
Ben Foden (Sale Sharks)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)**
Adrian Jarvis (Harlequins)
Ryan Lamb (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Ollie Smith (Leicester Tigers)**
Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)**
Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps)
 
** Denotes capped player