Coughlan Included In Ireland Squad

James Coughlan is one of seven Munster players named in today’s Irish squad for the November Guinness Series against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand.

The uncapped Coughlan joins Munster forwards Peter O'Mahony, Paul O'Connell, Mike Sherry and Stephen Archer, and backs Keith Earls and Conor Murray in the squad.

Missing out due to injury are Simon Zebo (foot), Tommy O'Donnell (knee) and Donnacha Ryan (knee).

Ireland Guinness Series Squad:
Backs
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)

Forwards
Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
James Coughlan (Dolphin/Munster)*
Tom Court (Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)*
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

*denotes uncapped player

Ireland Head Coach, Joe Schmidt, commented "The squad combines players who have shown form in the domestic season mixed with those who have a proven record at international level.

As always there were some very difficult decisions. Some players have had limited opportunity to impress due to injury and others have performed very well and it was difficult to leave them out.

The Guinness Series will demand plenty from the squad and I know they'll be motivated by the challenge."

2013 Guinness Series Fixtures
Ireland v Samoa, Saturday, 9th November, 17.45

Ireland v Australia, Saturday, 16th November, 17.45

Ireland v New Zealand, Sunday, 24th November, 14.00