RUGBY:PAUL O'CONNELL has failed in his efforts to be fit for Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. Ulster and Ireland hooker Rory Best has also been ruled out. Best had been struggling with an ankle injury he picked up recently, while secondrow O'Connell has a groin injury which goes back to Ireland's final game against Scotland in the Six Nations Championship.

Uncapped Leinster hooker John Fogarty has been called into the squad to replace Best, while another uncapped player, Ulster second row Ed O’Donoghue, is named to replace O’Connell.