McIlorum answers England call

Michael McIlorum
12 April 2012

Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum has answered an SOS from England coach Steve McNamara and switched his allegiance from Ireland 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 called up by McNamara after first-choice hooker James Roby suffered a fractured eye socket whilst playing for St Helens 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 a key role in Wigan's title win last season, admitted the lure of playing for the country of his birth had proved to be too strong.

"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 man suffering a hip injury in the defeat to Catalan Dragons on Saturday, while he has opted not to select 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 on Sunday 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.

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