Irish Squad Announced

Six Munster players have been named in the Ireland squad of 22 players, from which the team to play England in the RBS Six Nations Championship in Twickenham on Saturday, March 6th will be picked.

Six Munster players have been named in the Ireland squad of 22 players, from which the Ireland team to play England in the RBS Six Nations Championship in Twickenham on Saturday, March 6th will be picked.

The only change from the squad that faced Wales is the inclusion of second row Gary Longwell in place of the injured Donncha O Callaghan.

Forwards (12):

Simon Best (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins) Shane Byrne (Leinster Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster Greystones), Victor Costello (Leinster St. Mary s College), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster St. Mary s College), John Hayes (Munster Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster Ballymena), Paul O Connell (Munster Young Munster), Malcolm O Kelly (Leinster St. Mary s College), Frank Sheahan (Munster Cork Constitution).

Backs (10):

Gordon D Arcy (Leinster Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Shane Horgan (Leinster Lansdowne), Tyrone Howe (Ulster Dungannon), David Humphreys (Ulster Dungannon), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Brian O Driscoll (Leinster Blackrock College) Captain, Ronan O Gara (Munster Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster Shannon).

Not considered due to injury: Paul Burke (Harlequins), Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary s College), Marcus Horan (Munster Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster Terenure College), Mike Mullins (Munster Old Crescent), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Donncha O Callaghan (Munster Cork Constitution), Alan Quinlan (Munster Shannon), David Wallace (Munster Garryowen).

The team to play England will be announced on Tuesday next, March 2nd, at the Banqueting Leisure Centre, City West Hotel at 12.45 pm approx., following a training session at Naas RFC, which is open to the Media from 11.15 am. Management and selected players will be available for interview following the announcement of the team.