Nine Munster Players on Ireland Squad.

Nine Munster players have been included in the 31 strong Ireland squad ahead of the opening Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations against Scotland in Murrayfield on Sunday week.

Nine Munster players have been included in the 31 strong Ireland squad ahead of the opening Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations against Scotland in Murrayfield on Sunday week.

Five forwards, Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes and Marcus Horan, are included along with four backs, Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Rob Henderson and John Kelly. Neither Paul O’Connell or David Wallace were included. O’Connell still has his hand in plaster after breaking his thumb against Ulster but Wallace is back in action for his club Garryowen but has played just twice with them and both times as a substitute. There will be some suprise and disappointment down south over the omission of Donncha O’Callghan from the squad. The 22 year old has been outstanding for Munster in recent games and certainly would have benefitted from being involved witht the national squad even if he weren’t considered ready to make the final 22 for the game against Scotland.

Forwards:

Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), Victor Costello, (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock/College), Jeremy Davidson (Ulster/Dungannon), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary s College), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College), Malcolm O Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution).

Backs:

Gordon Darcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), Brian O Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College) capt, David Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock College), Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon).

The following players were not considered due to injury:

Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon) Justin Bishop (London Irish), Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Tyrone Howe (Ulster/Dungannon), Paul O Connell (Munster/Young Munster), David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen), Paul Wallace (Lenister/Blackrock College), Keith Wood (Harlequins).