Wood promoted to full GB squad

Warrington forward Paul Wood was on Sunday promoted to the full Great Britain squad for their Tri-Nations campaign, which gets under way against New Zealand on Saturday.

The 25-year-old prop or second rower was named as the official replacement for St Helens forward James Graham, who was a late withdrawal after breaking a bone in his hand during the Grand Final last Saturday.

Wood, originally named in the stand-by squad, travelled out to Sydney in the 18-strong advance party a fortnight ago and played in Friday's 40-6 win over a Newcastle District team.

Coach Brian Noble on Sunday released four players, including Warrington pair Lee Briers and Ben Westwood, but kept Wood and another Wolves team-mate, Stuart Reardon.

Reardon, 25, who played on the wing in all five of Britain's matches in the inaugural Tri-Nations tournament in 2004, will not be part of the official 25-man squad but will remain with the party to provide cover in case of injuries to the backline.

Britain have only one recognised full-back in Paul Wellens and just three specialist centres. Wood made his only previous Great Britain appearance against New Zealand A in the build-up to the 2003 Ashes Series but he is rewarded for a splendid season with Warrington.

He is the second change to Britain's original squad, following the elevation of Salford prop Andy Coley for ankle-injury victim Paul Johnson.

Briers, who won his solitary Great Britain cap against France in 2001, was returning home today and will now be free to captain Wales in their World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Bridgend next Sunday.

Westwood is expected to be made available for England's games against Tonga and Samoa in the Federation Shield, along with Salford winger David Hodgson and Wigan Mickey Higham, the other players cut from the squad.

"Following our warm-up game, the coaching staff have now finalised their plans for the Gillette Tri-Nations," said Great Britain manager Abi Ekoku. "We would like thank the players returning home for their contributions to the squad and the professionalism they have showed during their time with the group."