Danaher out to impress Woodward

Declan Danaher, England's new squad recruit, is back in his favourite No 7 shirt with London Irish as he bids to impress England manager Clive Woodward before the start of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations championship next month.

"It is all pretty awesome at the moment," said Danaher. "It is great to make the squad but I will probably be sent to the A team next to learn a little more." Danaher, who can play in any position in the back row, takes over at open side for the Irish against Gloucester in the Powergen Cup quarter-final at Reading on Sunday because Kieran Dawson is injured.

Danaher is also paying the price for some tough assignments recently and said: "Playing and training has meant that I have never been in as much pain as I have for the last couple of weeks. But we have some massive games coming up soon."

Danaher, 22, has gone from teenage football hopeful on Hackney Marshes to a trial with Queens Park Rangers but admitted: "I wasn't good enough at football."

He was born in Hampstead of Irish parents and played for Ireland's Under-19 team before switching to England last year.

He said: "Ireland did not treat me very well. They did not pick me again for the Under-19 squad and there was no explanation other than that I was basically too nice to play for them.