Martin Johnson may have only just started his new job at Twickenham as England team manager, but the World Cup-winning captain has agreed to come out of his retirement from playing to support a worthy cause.

Three years after he hung up his boots, Johnson has succumbed to overtures from Lawrence Dallaglio, who retired in May, to take part in the Help for Heroes challenge match at Twickenham on September 20, which is aimed at raising £1 million to help to fund the rehabilitation of wounded Service personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The money will go towards improving facilities at the Headley Court tri-Services centre near Leatherhead, Surrey.

Johnson, 38, will line up alongside Dallaglio for the first time since the 2003 World Cup final to play for the Help for Heroes XV, managed by Phil de Glanville, another former England captain, against an International XV captained and managed respectively by Scott Gibbs and Ieuan Evans, the former Wales and Lions backs. Johnson’s presence will be a huge boost to the organisers as they attempt to sell out the stadium.

“I’ve kept myself fit and although I’ve played some one-off charity rugby and football matches this will be the first and I’m sure the last time that I will play in a competitive match against some world-class players,” Johnson said. “As soon as I was asked to play by Lawrence I didn’t hesitate to say yes. The cause is a superb one and anything the players and fans can do to raise money for care and the facilities to support our wounded Service personnel has to be worthwhile. Our target is to reach a sell-out at Twickenham and to raise £1 million, so I urge everyone to do their bit, buy a ticket and enjoy a good day out for an excellent cause.”

Elsewhere, the host nations for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups will be announced together in July next year. The IRB starts the tender process this month, when it will invite member unions to register to stage either competition. Bernard Lapasset, the IRB chairman, said: “We believe that awarding two tournaments together will provide a better timeframe for planning and longer-term certainty for hosts and commercial partners.”

Dwayne Peel expects to be fit to make his debut for Sale Sharks next month after making a quicker than expected recovery from shoulder surgery. The Wales and Lions scrum half, 26, was expected to be out until the end of the year, but Peel, who signed a three-year contract with Sale in January after deciding to leave Llanelli Scarlets, is targeting a return in August in a preseason friendly against Leeds Carnegie. “All I want is an injury-free season for club and country,” Peel said.

Tickets for the Help for Heroes challenge match can be obtained at ticketmaster.co.uk or by telephone on 0844 847 2492.