The decision follows a request from the Rugby Football Union for the Premiership clubs to rest the England starting XV named by head coach Brian Ashton.

The Falcons director of rugby John Fletcher insisted his decision was taken purely on the grounds of what was considered best for Wilkinson.

Ashton named his team for the Ireland game early - an unprecedented 11 days before the match - in the hope it would help the RFU persuade clubs not to field the selected England players.

All decisions will be made by the clubs on a case-by-case basis. Wilkinson, for example, has played only two full matches since returning from a lacerated kidney - both of them RBS 6 Nations Tests.

Fletcher said: We believe this is a decision in the best interests of the club and the player.

Jonny has started two tough international matches, taken a lot of bumps and bruises - and we have reached a joint decision.

The RFUs director of elite rugby Rob Andrew is particularly concerned about the three Sunday fixtures - Newcastle v Bristol, Saracens v Gloucester and Wasps v Sale - which might have involved nine of Englands starting XV just six days before the Croke Park clash.

The England side named by Ashton included recalls for Wasps flanker Joe Worsley and Gloucester full-back Olly Morgan.

Worsley returns to the team in place of Nick Easter, after recovering from the neck injury which kept him out of last weekends victory over Italy.

Morgan is set to win his second Test cap after being named at full-back in place of his Gloucester team-mate Iain Balshaw, who is not expected to recover from a groin injury in time.

The two changes mean Ashton has reverted back to the same starting XV he named for Englands comprehensive 42-20 opening-round victory over Scotland.

The England team to play Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Croke Park on February 24:

O Morgan (Gloucester); J Lewsey (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), A Farrell (Saracens), J Robinson (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester Tigers); P Freshwater (Perpignan), G Chuter (Leicester), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lund (Sale Sharks), M Corry (Leicester).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester Tigers), T Palmer (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), S Perry (Bristol), T Flood (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).