Twickenham antagonises IRB

International touring is among the most sensitive issues in rugby right now, and not simply because the All Blacks are here for the first time since the 1999 World Cup with barely a senior forward in sight. The English have also been winding up the powers that be by discussing an exclusive, and wholly unilateral, annual competition with Australia and South Africa, and they raised the political temperature by another degree or two yesterday by trumpeting a tripartite agreement with the major North American unions.

Twickenham announced, in grandiloquent terms that suggested the sudden involvement of Jack Straw and Colin Powell in rugby matters, the signing of a "memorandum of understanding for a strategic alliance" with both Canada and the United States. This covers, among a variety of support initiatives designed to grow the game on the far side of the Atlantic, an annual summer tournament between the three countries, with a new trophy – the Churchill Cup – on the end of it.

While Francis Baron, the Rugby Football Union's chief executive, acknowledged that ratification was required from the International Rugby Board, which meets in Dublin next week, it is clear that the North American deal is up and running. It will not impact greatly on England's élite players – a mix of A-teamers and under-21s are likely to contest the Churchill Cup, which is scheduled to run for five years from next June – but IRB delegates will no doubt bridle at the RFU's presumptuous approach, especially as this tournament was a cornerstone of Twickenham proposals on touring and international development that received a lukewarm welcome from the board a year ago.

Baron believes that the major unions should reduce the number of Test matches against the so-called developing nations, but act as "mentors" by establishing stronger links at A-team level and below. Two aspects of this policy were greeted with suspicion by the wider rugby community: the weakening of links with less commercially attractive opposition, from the Pacific islands to Argentina via Japan and Romania, and England's self-interest in cornering the prime North American market.

Next week's gathering in Ireland will address a number of issues crucial to the well-being of the world game: increased financial support for unions effectively ruined by professionalism, the future of the international touring programme and the closing of the gap between top and bottom that threatens to make a mockery of future World Cups. Yesterday, RFU officials insisted its Churchill Cup plans were proof of its commitment to global rugby development. They may not be quite so committed if the IRB attempts to impose a levy on Twickenham gate receipts.

Keith Wood, the Lions hooker whose recent injuries have kept him out of both club rugby for Harlequins and Test rugby for Ireland, returns to the Quins front row on Sunday for his first start since September. Wood has had neck problems, but has been cleared to face Saracens in a Premiership match at Vicarage Road. Tony Diprose will lead Quins against his old club in the absence of Jason Leonard, who is on international duty. The Londoners' new overseas signing, the former Springbok captain Andre Vos, will take over the reins against Wasps on 17 November.

Second-placed Leeds have signed Rob Thirlby, the Bath wing, on a month's loan as cover for the Argentinian Test player, Diego Albanese.