Niall Woods, the eight-times capped, 28-year-old Irish winger, yesterday left London Irish and signed for London rivals Harlequins on a two-year deal. Sidelined for much of this season by an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, Woods hopes to make his comeback with his new club next September.

The former Blackrock and Leinster flyer, who won the last of his caps in Ireland's win over Wales at Wembley last year, had spent four years with London Irish and said: "It was a bloody hard decision." However, he decided to join their landlords at the Stoop essentially for rugby reasons and primarily because Harlequins' chief executive Mark Evans shares Woods' desire for him to try playing at full back again.

"I needed a fresh challenge, I wouldn't have had the chance of playing full back here (London Irish) with Conor (O'Shea) and Jarrod (Cunningham). I've always wanted to do that and I'd like to give it a go. It mightn't come off but I'd prefer to take the risk."

The move will also see him resume playing links with his onetime London Irish centre teammate Nick Burrows, who is moving there from Bristol.

England captain Matt Dawson was preparing for a shoulder scan yesterday that will determine his immediate rugby future. The Northampton scrum-half dislocated his left shoulder during the 29-24 Premiership defeat against Saracens on Wednesday.

It immediately raised questions about his chances of making next week's Heineken Cup final against Munster and the England tour to South Africa.