Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum has switched international allegiances to answer an SOS from England coach Steve McNamara.
Wigan hooker turns back on Ireland to represent country of birth
Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum has switched his international allegiance to answer an SOS from England coach Steve McNamara ahead of Friday's CarPlan International Origin match against the Exiles.
The 23-year-old, who played for Ireland at the 2008 World Cup, was sent for by McNamara after first-choice hooker James Roby sustained a fractured eye socket whilst playing in St Helens' win over Leeds on Friday.
"Michael is just the sort of person you need for a match against the Exiles; he's tough, tenacious and someone who will never take a backward step," said McNamara, who took his first training session with the squad at Loughborough on Monday.
"Whilst we're sorry to have lost James, I have no doubts that Michael is a valuable addition to the squad and I'm looking forward to working with him this week."
McIlorum, who played an important role in Wigan's title triumph last season, acknowledged that the opportunity to represent his country of birth was too good to turn down.
"It was a bit of a surprise but I'm absolutely delighted to have this chance," he said.
"I enjoyed playing for Ireland but as a player you want to test yourself against the best players in the world and that's why I opted for the country of my birth.
"I'm a proud Englishman and it will be one of the proudest days of my life if I get the nod on Friday night."
McNamara expects star full-back Sam Tomkins to be fit despite the Wigan flyer suffering a hip injury in the defeat to Catalan Dragons on Saturday, while he has opted not to bring in a replacement for Danny Brough.
Like McIlorum, Brough had turned his back on another country, in his case Scotland, in order to make his England debut, but suffered ankle ligament damage playing for Huddersfield against Castleford last night.
The scrum-half had been a sure-fire starter at Headingley, but McNamara will now choose between Warrington's Richie Myler and Brough's club-mate Luke Robinson.
