SIX NATIONS:Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named an extended 39-man squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship which begins for Ireland when they take on France in Croke Park on Saturday, February 7th.
The impressive recent form of Ulster’s Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell and Darren Cave has seen them earn places in the initial selection while Harlequins tighthead prop Mike Ross is also among a total of seven uncapped players in the panel.
Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy returns to the international scene almost 12 months after breaking his arm against Italy in last season’s Six Nations opener but Leo Cullen is not considered having injured his shoulder last weekend.
D'Arcy, player of the tournament for the 2004 and 2007 Six Nations, missed the autumn internationals as he continued his rehabilitation from injury.
Kidney welcomed the emergence of the young Ulster players when announcing today’s squad.
“The core group of players who were part of the November squad have maintained their form but it is also pleasing to be able to bring in players who are really developing this season like Darren Cave and Tom Court as well as more established players who have performed well over the last number of weeks,” he said.
While there may be seven Ulster representatives in the senior squad, both Ian Humphreys and Isaac Boss will have to settle for a place in the A panel.
Cullen, Tony Buckley, Neil Best and Roger Wilson were not considered for selection due to injury or suspension.
Kidney added: "We want to continue to develop a panel and bringing in 39 players allows to us to work with the players on this basis.
"As well as bringing the players through the systems of the team, it allows for the usual knocks the players might pick up.”
Kidney will name his starting line-up to face France on February 3rd. France are something of an unknown quantity heading into the Six Nations but Kidney has no doubt they will be formidable opponents.
He said: “France can bring so much to their game and are incredibly dangerous in this tournament. The players will set the foundations for the tournament during their first week of training.
“After that, the only focus we will have will be on our opening game against France.”
Ireland squad:
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Shannon – Munster*), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster*)Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster),Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster),Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College – Leinster*), Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)
Forwards: Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon – Ulster*), Bob Casey (London Irish), Tom Court (Ballymena – Ulster*), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Bruff- Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf – Leinster*), Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf - Leinster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College - Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster), Mike Ross (Harlequins*), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon - Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster)
A Team Panel
Isaac Boss (Ballymena - Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers -Connacht)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Ian Humphreys (Ballymena - Ulster)
Keith Matthews (Buccaneers - Connacht)
John Muldoon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf - Leinster)
Neil Best (Northampton)
John Andress (Exeter)
*denotes uncapped player
