Rugby:Declan Kidney resisted deviating from the script when revealing his 24-man squad for the Six Nations campaign this afternoon, with all those involved having played some part in last summer's Rugby World Cup.
Leinster back Luke Fitzgerald, who was omitted from the tournament in New Zealand, remains on the fringes, included in an O2 Wolfhounds squad that contains eight uncapped players.
His provincial captain Leo Cullen is one of four secondrows named in the senior squad, despite being pencilled in for surgery on both Achilles tendons in Sweden next week. It has not yet been decided whether he will take up that option, but Leinster say it is "likely" and the lock will need between six and eight weeks recuperation. That scenario could open the door for Connacht's Mike McCarthy, Ulster's Dan Tuohy or his provincial team-mate Devin Toner.
Paddy Wallace has been included in the senior squad having played just 100 minutes since November 12th because of a thumb injury, but his Ulster team-mate Paul Marshall has been left out of both squads, despite shining for his province this season.
The 24-man squad will be supplemented by six additional uncapped players - Ian Nagle, Peter O'Mahony, Tiernan O'Halloran, Paddy McAllister, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo – who will be with the senior set-up in the first week of camp in Limerick next week.
The squad to face Wales in Ireland’s opening fixture on Sunday, February 5th, will be selected after the Wolfhounds take on England at Sandy Park on Saturday week.
“The Wolfhounds game gives myself and the other coaches one final chance to give games to players to see possible options before we settle on our match day 22 for the opening game,” said Kidney today.
“It also gives us the opportunity to have a closer look in training at some of the younger players, rather than bringing in more experienced players, who are very much still in the frame for selection.
“There have been some strong performances by players with the Provinces going really well. It always gives the squad a good boost when we have teams with players playing well in Europe before we step back up into the international scene.”
The coach added the tournament proper will be the “a fresh and exciting challenge for us” at the start of a “big year” in which Ireland will travel back to New Zealand for a three test tour in June.
Ireland Squad (24):Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Tom Court (Malone – Ulster), Sean Cronin (St.Mary's College – Leinster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College – Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster – Munster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon – Ulster), Cian Healy (Clontarf – Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College – Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD – Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere – Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen – Munster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf – Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution – Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster – Munster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution – Munster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne – Leinster), Mike Ross (Clontarf – Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon – Munster), Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College – Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena – Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena – Ulster)
Additional players (6):Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution – Munster)*, Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution – Munster)*, Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians – Connacht)*, Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch – Ulster)*, Andrew Conway (Blackrock College – Leinster)*, Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution – Munster)*
O2 Ireland Wolfhounds (22):Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution – Munster)*, Isaac Boss (Terenure College – Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians – Connacht), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College – Leinster), Chris Henry (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster), Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution – Munster), David Kearney (Lansdowne – Leinster)*, Ian Keatley (Young Munster – Munster), Ronan Loughney (Buccaneers – Connacht)*, Ian Madigan (Blackrock College – Leinster)*, Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers – Connacht), Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary's College – Leinster), John Muldoon (Galwegians – Connacht), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin – Munster), Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere – Leinster)*, Rhys Ruddock (St.Mary's College – Leinster), Mike Sherry (Garryowen – Munster)*, Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch – Ulster)*, Devin Toner (Lansdowne – Leinster), Dan Touhy (Ballymena– Ulster), Damien Varley (Garryowen – Munster), Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians – Connacht)*
* = uncapped
