Kirke hoping for call from Woodward

Richard Kirke, the London Irish hooker, discovers tomorrow whether he is in Clive Woodward's first England squad of 2001 just three months short of his 30th birthday.

His only other experience in the squad cost him five weeks out of action with an ankle injury - and he was also an innocent participant in the players' 24-hour strike.

The strike led to a lock out by Woodward of all of the players preparing for the Test against Argentina and Kirke said: "As a member of the squad I was called to the meetings about the money and I thought: 'What am I doing getting caught up in this?' Fortunately it resolved itself and I did not take part in any of the votes."

Then, in training, Kirke stood on someone's foot, rolled his ankle, and any chance of a surprise England debut for the New Zealand-born forward had gone.

He has not played since but intends to be back in the London Irish squad which heads to Brive in France on Sunday for the next stage of the European Shield competition.

Kirke's England link is through his Cornish-born mother and he has an England A appearance in his portfolio when he came on against Ireland in Dublin two years ago.

He said: "I don't know what their thinking is now. I will just have to see what comes. There are a lot of people competing for one place."