Ireland Preliminary Squad to Play Scotland

The Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS Six Nations championship at Lansdowne Road on Saturday next, March 27th, will be announced at City West Hotel, Banqueting Centre today at 12.45pm.

The Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS Six Nations championship at Lansdowne Road on Saturday next, March 27th, will be announced at City West Hotel, Banqueting Centre today at 12.45 pm, following training at Naas Rugby Club, which will be open to the Media from 11.15 am.

The Ireland management have invited 11 players to join the 22 strong squad which was on duty against Italy, with the exception of flanker Keith Gleeson who fractured an arm and will undergo surgery this week.

The additional players are: forwards, Simon Best, Bernard Jackman, Neil McMillan, Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Roger Wilson and backs, Gavin Duffy, Tyrone Howe, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly and Paddy Wallace.

The Ireland squad of 32 is:

Forwards:

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), John Hayes (Munster – Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon), Bernard Jackman (Connacht – Clontarf), Gary Longwell (Ulster – Ballymena), Neil McMillan (Ulster – Ballymena), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster – Garryowen), Roger Wilson (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins).

Backs:

Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster – Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne), Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Tyrone Howe (Ulster – Dungannon), David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College), Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon), Paddy Wallace (Ulster – Ballymena).

Not considered due to injury:

Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres), Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Rob Henderson (Munster – Garryowen), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Mike Mullins (Munster – Old Crescent), Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon), David Quinlan (Leinster – Blackrock College).