IRB seeks to clarify New Zealand's Devine selection

There was a time when the word eligible applied solely to bachelors in the marital stakes, but all that changed when rugby union stuck its oar in and one hell of a mess ensued, resulting in tears in Wales after the exposure of the so-called Grannygate scandal.

It left Shane Howarth, after 19 caps between 1998 and 2000, forever barred to play for Wales again because of a retrospective regulation that prohibits players from turning out for more than one country at full international level if they have represented another country at one of the following: Test level, A-team or the national Sevens team.

Now it would appear that New Zealand have slipped another spanner into the works by including the scrum-half Steve Devine in their party for the tour to Europe. Devine, who was born in Australia and played for that country's Sevens team four years ago before moving to New Zealand, arrives in this country with the All Blacks squad this morning.

While the Rugby Football Union wheels have yet to grind into motion ­ it could lodge a formal complaint with the International Board if it so chooses ­ the IRB has already taken steps to resolve the issue.

Michelle Treacy, the IRB's assistant communications manager, said last night: "We have sent a letter to the New Zealand Rugby Union asking them to clarify things. We have asked them to send us the relevant documentation as soon as possible."

The fact that the Board has taken this step means that it is no longer incumbent upon England to raise the issue, although Wales might want to say something, given the Howarth affair, but last night sources at the WRU said it wanted to secure more facts before making any decision or complaint.

There will be groans of disappointment in Ireland with the news that their talismanic hooker and captain, Keith Wood, is going to miss the Test against Australia at Lansdowne Road next Saturday. Wood is still recovering from a neck injury he suffered during Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Russia. It has ruled him out of Harlequins' Zurich Premiership game with Bath today.

Ireland have been hit by further injury problems with the news that the Leinster winger Denis Hickie has aggravated a hand injury. Leicester's Geordan Murphy has been called into their squad as a precaution.

The Premiership has some intriguing matches this weekend, beginning at Kingsholm, where the leaders, Gloucester, tackle third-placed Northampton. There should be some interesting head-to-heads, none more so than at scrum-half where Gloucester's Andy Gomarsall and Saints' Matt Dawson battle for a claim of the England berth against the All Blacks next week.

The record would favour Dawson, 44 caps and a Lions hero to boot, but Gomarsall, while only having made eight international appearances, is determined to make his rival fight for the No 9 shirt. "Matt Dawson stands out among scrum-halves," said Gomarsall yesterday. "There is no doubt that he will put me under enormous pressure tomorrow, but I am still only 28 and there are many more years left in me.

"I cannot afford to let the England thing distract me. If I allow myself to get wrapped up in that then I will lose my edge."

There is another big game at Welford Road, a match which Leicester go into a place behind their visitors, fourth-placed Wasps. But Tigers, beaten three times away this season, remain invincible in league combat at home. Not since Newcastle toppled them almost five years ago have they surrendered home advantage.

Wasps have the centre Fraser Waters making his first appearance of the season after recovering in turn from an ankle injury and a hernia operation, but Alex King is rested, even though the fly-half was given the medical all-clear following a scan of his skull after being knocked out in last week's game against Gloucester. The exciting Mark Van Gisbergen takes over at outside-half.

Bath will be confronted by Harlequins' latest signing, the former South African captain Andre Vos, who steps out on to The Stoop turf just 72 hours after landing in this country. Vos is likely to be named the Quins captain later this month. The England centre Will Greenwood makes a Premiership debut at fly-half.