Danaher muscles into England squad
Declan Danaher's soaring rise through the England ranks took him to new heights yesterday and a place in Clive Woodward's 30-man Six Nations training squad.
The London Irishman, 22 today, was promoted to the development squad only last month. Now he finds himself one of a battery of six back-row forwards assembling next Monday. He will not play in Scotland, but his swift recognition will convince the player that his future lies with England rather than Ireland.
A Londoner from Cricklewood, of Irish parentage, Danaher began with Ireland at the Junior World Cup before England picked him for their Under 21 team.
'He has had an outstanding season so far for Irish and is a real talent,' said Woodward. 'I hope he will take the opportunity to learn from the more experienced players.'
Nick Walshe, as forecast on these pages, will fill the vacancy caused by Matt Dawson's ankle injury, while Henry Paul, still serving his Union apprenticeship after his cross-code transfer, keeps his place in the squad.
British Lion Darren Morris has been kicked out of Graham Henry's 36-strong Wales squad because he is unfit.
ENGLAND: Forwards: N Back, M Corry, B Kay, M Johnson, L Moody, G Rowntree, D West (all Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), M Regan (Bath), R Hill (Saracens), S Thompson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), J Worsley (Wasps), P Vickery (Gloucester), J White (Bristol). Backs: A Healey (Leicester), I Balshaw, M Catt, M Perry, M Tindall (all Bath), K Bracken (Saracens), N Walshe (Saracens), B Cohen (Northampton), W Greenwood (Harlequins), D Luger (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), J Robinson (Sale), H Paul (Gloucester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), D Danaher (Irish).
WALES: Forwards: D Jones (Neath), I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), S John (Cardiff), C Anthony (Swansea), R McBryde (Llanelli), B Williams (Neath), M Davies (Pontypridd), C Quinnell (Cardiff), N Budgett (Bridgend), I Gough (Newport), A Moore (Swansea), C Wyatt (Llanelli), B Sinkinson (Neath), N Bonner-Evans (Neath), G Thomas (Bath), C Charvis (Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), S Quinnell (Wales). Backs: K Morgan (Swansea), R Williams (Cardiff), D James (Bridgend), M Jones (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bridgend), C Morgan (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath), J Robinson (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), A Bateman (Neath), A Marinos (Newport), S Jones (Llanelli), I Harris (Cardiff), L Jarvis (Neath), G Henson (Swansea), R Howley (Cardiff), G Cooper (Bath), D Peel (Llanelli).
