IRELAND'S second row forward Paddy Johns is the latest Irish international to move to England.

Johns, capped 28 times in the second and back rows, has joined first division Saracens. He will link up at the north London first division club with Ireland tight head prop Paul Wallace, who moved to the club some weeks ago.

Bedford had made strenuous efforts to sign Johns, but Saracens' first division status was obviously a major consideration in his decision. Another Irish international back row, Eddie Halvey, joined Saracens last season, but he has now returned to Shannon and the indications are that he will be playing his rugby this season with the All Ireland champions.

The departure of Johns is a major blow to Dungannon who have also lost their international second row Jeremy Davidson to London Irish.

Only two of the last Ireland team to take the field in the final international of the season against England are now based with Irish clubs. They are the Malone pair of Maurice Field and Denis McBride. That statistic scarcely needs further elaboration as an illustration of the current state of the game here.