Wood agrees to contract

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood has announced he will sign his international contract and donate his match fees to charity.

The Harlequins hooker Wood was dropped from the Irish squad this month after he refused to sign an IRFU contract which would have allowed his name to be used for commercial purposes without his permission.

Wood had told the IRFU he would play Test rugby for nothing, but this offer was turned down, and Ireland selected Newcastle's Ross Nesdale for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Georgia.

Wood issued a statement last night through his solicitors saying: "After much deliberation, I have decided to sign the Irish international contract in its present form.

"The decision I made in not signing the contract originally is one I still stand by. I feel the contract is not totally fair and feel justified by the stance I've taken.

"However, I am driven by a need to play for my country above all else. I was and obviously still am willing to make concessions to sign.

"The union have not responded in kind. I also feel it is to no one's benefit that I have not been considered for selection.

"Hence I have decided to sign and stick to my word. I intend to give any international match appearance fee I receive this season to charity.

Ireland manager Donal Lenihan responded to Wood's statement by saying only that he was "pleased" with the news.

An IRFU spokesman, meanwhile, said: "Once Wood signs the contract he comes in line with everybody else.

"It was always a case that as soon as he signed the contract he would become available."