NEWPORT chief executive Keith Grainger today angrily denied a newspaper report claiming Lions, Ireland and Harlequins hooker Keith Wood (pictured) was to join the club.

The report claimed Wood, one of the stars of the current Lions tour to Australia, had signed a pre-contractual agreement to join Newport in 2002 after the remaining year of his Harlequins contract.

It also claimed news to this affect was due to be circulated to members next week. The South Wales Argus reported back on June 22 and again since that rumours linking the effervescent Wood with Newport were way off the mark.

Grainger said today: "This report has absolutely no credibility whatsoever. None whatsoever.

"Keith Wood is contracted with Harlequins for the rest of the season and clearly Harlequins aren't going to let him go."

In fact their chief executive, Mark Evans, says: "It isn't going to happen. He is about to sign a new three-year deal with the Harlequins, so you can forget it."

Grainger added: "I just can't see any way any club will get hold of Wood for the next three years because the Quins will pay a King's ransom to keep him.

"We have had no discussion whatsoever with Wood for almost a year and as I handle such matters I would know.

"He has not signed a pre-contractual agreement and we are not putting out any release on his arrival to club members.

"I don't know where these continuing stories are coming from. They are not true. Had there been any such news the Argus would have been the first to be told."