LONDON IRISH, newly promoted to the first division of the English League, have signed a new deal with sponsors Guinness worth £1 million over the next three years.

The club also confirmed the signings, earlier this summer, of Ireland internationals, wing Niall Woods, lock Jeremy Davidson and number eight Victor Costello.

This brings the number of Irish players committed to playing in England next year to more than two thirds of the international squad.

Clive Woodward, club coach and former England centte, said: "I expect the Irish selectors will be over in England frequently. But I have had a day sorting out any possible conflicts of interest with the Irish international manager Pat Whelan.

"Their training schedule does not yet have a single clash and, in any case, I have told all the players that they will be released for international football."

Woodward added that his long term aim is to ensure that his players are paid more than any other player in the country. In the short term his ambition is "not just survival in the first division".

"If I did not think that my team were not good enough to win the league I would not be there, but we have no illusions about the standards of the opposition week in week out. However, the quality of our fixtures was an attraction for the players who have joined us," he said.