FORMER England rugby union international Simon Irving has joined York Wasps until the end of the season and will go straight into the team to face Swinton Lions at Huntington Stadium tonight.

Centre Irving, 33, played for England 'B' in the union code and has also enjoyed a distinguished rugby league career, playing almost 200 games for Leeds and Keighley.

He has been playing rugby union for Huddersfield since leaving Keighley last season but is keen to get back into the 13-a-side game.

Irving will add some much needed experience to the Wasps' back division, as will birthday boy Dean Thomas who starts his first game since August, 1996.

But York have suffered a major blow with the loss of hooker turned scrum-half Gareth Dobson who has returned to Castleford Tigers.

Dobson has been on loan from Castleford all season but has been recalled by the Tigers because of a lengthy injury list which includes first choice hooker Aaron Raper.

York coach Garry Atkins said: "It's a big blow but he has got the possibility of playing Super League so we won't stand in his way."

Loan scrum-half Craig Robinson takes his place in a much changed back line tonight.

Atkins has carried out his threat to drop the under-achievers with Darren Callaghan, Max Ryce and John McCracken all missing out.

The Wasps coach said after Sunday's heavy defeat at Whitehaven that he only wanted players who showed pride and passion and he believes Irving and Thomas both fit that bill.

"Simon's assets are his experience, his direct running and his strength but the main thing is his commitment and dedication to playing rugby league," said Atkins of Irving, who joined Keighley from Leeds in the 1994-54 season.

An accomplished goalkicker, he scored 562 points in more than 80 appearances for Leeds who he joined from Headingley RU in 1990.

He signed for Keighley in the 1994-95 season and went on to score 858 points in 94 appearances.

Thomas, 34 today, has been involved in just three games since re-joining York as their conditioner at the start of the season.

He made brief appearances from the bench in the first two games of the season and was an unused substitute against Doncaster last month.

Atkins has been impressed with his enthusiasm and said: "Dean wants to play rugby league so we've got nothing to lose in that sense. I said after Sunday I want people who want to play rugby league and some of the players here don't want to."

One player who will not be taking any part in the immediate future is second rower Lee McTigue. He is taking a break from the professional after getting a promotion at work.

Wasps prop Lea Tichener, who is out for a month with a shoulder injury, was yesterday banned for one match and fined £75 for punching against Keighley at Huntington Stadium on April 24.

Oldham centre Anthony Gibbons will be available for their crunch clash with Keighley Cougars tonight after being found not guilty of use of the forearm against York at Boundary Park on May 1.

He was cited by York after Leroy McKenzie's tackle on Gibbons left the Wasps winger with a broken jaw.

York Wasps: Preston, Woodcock, Irving, Lambert, Thomas, Cain, Robinson, Forstyh, Pallister, S Hill, A Hill, Hargrave, Darley. Subs: Gray, Ramsden, Judge, Hagan.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)

Kick-off: 7.30pm

sport@ycp.co.uk