SIX NATIONS:LEINSTER CAPTAIN Leo Cullen remains Ireland's main concern ahead of next Saturday's Six Nations Championship match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. The secondrow picked up a groin injury while playing for his province in their Magners League victory over the Scarlets at the RDS on Friday night.

Cullen was forced to retire after 28 minutes but Leinster coach Joe Schmidt was optimistic that the problem wasn’t that serious and would expect him to be available for Cardiff. The player was due to be evaluated by the Irish medical team after reporting to their Killiney base last night.

Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton confirmed that scrumhalf Tomás O’Leary, who missed the victory over Scotland with a back complaint, could be in contention for a place in the match squad for the Welsh tie. “Tomás is continuing rehab with his back and we are not ruling him out of any games at this stage,” said McNaughton.

O’Leary trained with the Ireland team that started against the Scots at a camp in Carton House last week. Twelve players have been added to the squad for training this week: Rhys Ruddock, Fergus McFadden, Kevin McLaughlin, Devin Toner (Leinster), Tony Buckley, Mick ODriscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Johne Murphy and O’Leary (Munster), Gavin Duffy and Mike McCarthy (Connacht) and Andrew Trimble (Ulster).

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will name the team tomorrow lunch-time.

Meanwhile Ulster’s Stephen Ferris, who has been ruled out of the remainder of Ireland’s games in the Six Nations, is hoping to be available for his province’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton on April 10th. He said: “The knee is on the mend and I’ll see a specialist again for another assessment. Hopefully he’ll give me the go ahead to get back into training soon.”