Shaun Edwards is the latest Great Britain international to pledge his allegiance to Ireland for their Tri-Nations series against Scotland and France in November. The Bradford scrum-half, who won three England caps in 1995 and 1996, qualifies because he has an Irish grandmother. He follows his former Wigan team-mate, Gary Connolly, who agreed to play for Ireland last week.

"I will be honoured to play for Ireland and pleased to take part in a good standard of competition," said the 31-year-old Edwards. "Also, I still want to play for Great Britain against New Zealand this autumn and this will help keep me in the picture."

But Edwards virtually ruled himself out of tomorrow night's top-four Super League match against Wigan. He needed painkilling injections to a sternum injury to complete last Sunday's defeat at Warrington, and said: "I'm really struggling."

Another leading light in Super League this season, the Leeds forward Adrian Morley, is also considering playing for Ireland. But although he was born and bred in Salford, he is also eligible for Wales.

"It's a tough dilemma," said Morley, who has promised to give the Wales coach, Clive Griffiths, his decision by the weekend. His brother Chris, now with Warrington, has two Wales caps, and his club captain, Iestyn Harris, is also pressuring him to play for Wales. But another Leeds team-mate, Barrie McDermott, and the Huddersfield prop Neil Harmon are leading the Irish pressure group.