NRL star
declares for Ireland - Pat turns Paddy

Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards is looking forward to returning to Australia at the end of his three-year deal with Wigan - as part of the Irish squad in town for the 2008 World Cup.

"There's a very good possibility," Richards, who scored two tries last Friday against Cronulla, told Sin Bin. "If it comes up, I'll definitely play for them. My mum and dad are both Irish ? I'm 100 per cent Irish." What about playing for Great Britain? "It's too far down the track to even think about," he said.

England-born Parramatta hooker Ian Henderson might, however, make himself available for the Lions after signing with Bradford.