The England flanker Lewis Moody, who has played only two matches since the World Cup final in November because of a serious foot injury, will resume contact training next month, a fortnight before the start of the new season.

The 25-year-old, one of several members of England's World Cup -winning squad who missed the summer tour to Australia and New Zealand, has still to set a date for his return. "The last two seasons have been shocking for me, because I have had to cope with injuries, but I still have many years ahead of me," said Moody, who has won 24 caps.

With Jonny Wilkinson and Phil Vickery due to return for their clubs at the start of the season, the England head coach Sir Clive Woodward will anticipate fielding a team more representative of England's strength for the internationals next November than he did during last month's tour.

The England sevens international Ben Gollings yesterday joined Worcester from Newcastle on a 12-month contract and may find himself lining up against his former colleagues in the opening weekend of the season with the Falcons visiting Sixways on September 5.

In Wales, the former chief executive and owner of the Celtic Warriors, Leighton Samuel, plans to press ahead with his legal action against the Welsh Rugby Union, which purchased the regional team from him in May and closed it down within three weeks.