London Irish fume after their top stars are 'tapped up' by eager rivals

The Exiles, who face Toulouse in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final at Twickenham, are calling for an investigation into what they claim is a series of attempts by agents to 'tap up' high-profile players, among them veteran playmaker Mike Catt, fly half Shane Geraghty and Ireland lock Bob Casey.

In demand: Londn Irish star Mike Catt

Their complaint is also understood to include accusations of illegal approaches to some of their outstanding young generation of prospective England players, which includes Nick Kennedy, David Paice and Topsy Ojo.

Irish confirmed on Tuesday that they have referred a number of such approaches to players under long-term contract to the Premiership's umbrella organisation, Premier Rugby Ltd. The practice may be relatively common in football but this is understood to be the first case in rugby.

Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said: "London Irish have expressed their concern on this particular issue and it's certainly the first of its kind during my three years at Premier Rugby. The regulations are very clear — no approaches can be made to players or members of the coaching staff unless they are within the last six months of their contract.

"Irish haven't asked me to take any specific action but I am talking to them about it. We are at the early stages of this matter but this is clearly something which clubs will have to be increasingly vigilant about."

Clearly, Irish would welcome any action on an issue which one of their Premiership rivals described as "a can of worms".

Catt, who rolled back the years to help England make a second successive World Cup Final, is increasingly in demand as a coach but he is under contract to Irish until the end of next season, making any approach without the club's permission illegal before next January.

Catt, who says he will play on next season beyond his 37th birthday in September, will subject himself to a vigorous fitness test on Wednesday before deciding whether the 'neural' problem over his chronic calf and hamstring trouble will allow him to put in one last appearance at Headquarters.

Whatever the verdict, Geraghty will be of critical importance either at stand off or inside centre if Irish are to upset the odds and so guarantee England one extra club in the Heineken next season.

Geraghty is eager to remind Martin Johnson's new regime that Danny Cipriani is not the only exceptional playmaker at England's disposal.

English by birth, Geraghty, who chose the Red Rose after representing Ireland at underage level, finds himself in a congested scramble for the second fly half position behind Cipriani.

"It's very competitive even without Jonny being there, what with Charlie Hodgson, Ryan Lamb and Toby Flood," said Geraghty. "I'm not frightened by the challenge at all."