England internationals Nick Kennedy, Paul Hodgson and Topsy Ojo signed new three-and-a-half year deals with London Irish today.

It is a timely boost for the Guinness Premiership leaders, who take on second-placed Gloucester at Reading on Saturday.

Kennedy, 27, and Ojo, 23, are both products of the club's academy system while scrum-half Hodgson, 26, joined from Bristol in 2004.

Lock Kennedy said: "This was a big decision for me. The club gave me an opportunity to play seven years ago and have looked after me since. The academy worked well for me and it's good to see more and more talented players coming through. We are playing rugby that is enjoyable to be part of."

Winger Ojo said: "I have been here six years and I've enjoyed every minute. We are part of something special and it won't be long before we win that elusive piece of silverware."

English champions London Wasps have struggled domestically this term but kept their Heineken Cup hopes alive with a 19-11 win over Edinburgh at Adams Park.

Dave Walder rose to the challenge of replacing Danny Cipriani by scoring all of Wasps' points. The hard-fought victory means Wasps are now just three points behind pool leaders Leinster, who they face at Twickenham on 17 January.

"We are back in the competition and that is the most important thing for us," said Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby. "Edinburgh are not an easy side to play and we knew they would try to make a statement against us and we handled it pretty well."

Walder started at No10, with Cipriani on the bench after a bout of flu. McGeechan said: "Defensively, Dave was very good, his kicking was 100 per cent and he attacked the line and scored a try. He is playing with a lot of confidence."

Saracens maintained their unbeaten run in the European Challenge Cup by beating Bayonne 36-0 in an ill-disciplined match which saw Census Johnston and Hugh Vyvyan plus three visiting players yellow carded.