Hayes Named in Irish Squad

Munster prop John Hayes will return to international action in a fortnight after being named in the 22 strong squad for the Ireland friendly against Italy at Thomond Park on Saturday August 30th.

Munster prop John Hayes who missed the recent tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa, through injury, will return to international action in a fortnight after being named in the 22 strong squad for the friendly against Italy at Thomond Park.

Also included in that squad are Marcus Horan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Rob Henderson and John Kelly.

Just three players who featured in the starting line-up last Saturday – David Humphreys, Geordan Murphy & Brian O’Driscoll – are included in the squad as Eddie O’Sullivan goes through the final process of running his eye over the candidates for his RWC squad.

Irish Squad:

Forwards (12):

Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Victor Costello (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College), Donnacha O Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution), Paul Shields (Ulster/allymena).

Backs (10):

Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/ Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St.Mary s College), Rob Henderson (Munster/ Garryowen), John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College), Brian O Meara (Leinster/Cork Constitution), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon).

Additional players for training:

Reggie Corrigan (Leinster Greystones), Gordon D Arcy (Leinster Lansdowne), Tyrone Howe (Ulster Dungannon), Anthony Horgan (Munster Cork Constitution), Paul O Connell (Munster Young Munster), Alan Quinlan (Munster Shannon), Paddy Wallace (Ulster Ballymena).

There will be an Open training session at the University of Limerick on Tuesday next from 11 pm to 12 noon approx, followed by the announcement of the team at the Castletroy Park Hotel at 12.45.