Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell should both make a welcome return to international rugby next month having been named in the extended Ireland squad for the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship.
…Paul O’Connell, battering his way through the English line, makes a welcome return to the Ireland squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship…
Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell should both make a welcome return to international rugby next month having been named in the extended Ireland squad for the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Also included in coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s 35-man panel is Denis Hickie, who, along with team captain O”Driscoll (dislocated shoulder) and O’Connell (hand), missed all three of Ireland’s November international due to a dislocated fibula.
The Irish Management have also included four uncapped players in the squad. They include Robert Kearney and Jamie Heaslip from Leinster, who were members of the squad for the November internationals. The uncapped newcomers are Leicester Tigers’ flanker Shane Jennings and Wasps scrum half Eoin Reddan, who is formerly of Munster.
Commenting on the squad, Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said: “Paul (O’Connell) and Brian (O’Driscoll) have had tough seasons so far in terms of injuries, but their form has been excellent since they returned to playing in December. Along with the return of Denis Hickie, it gives the squad a little bit more experience then we had in November.
“Keeping in mind that we have the final round of the Heineken Cup this weekend, hopefully the squad will be fit and well and on the field next Monday morning.”
He added: “As well as the return of the more senior players, we still have a good blend of youth with Andrew Trimble, Rory Best, Neil Best and Jerry Flannery all coming into the Six Nations with a little bit more experience.
Commenting on the new additions to the squad, O’Sullivan said: “Both Eoin (Reddan) and Shane (Jennings) have been in good form for their clubs, so it will be good to see how they go with the squad next week. Jeremy Staunton and John Kelly have also been playing well and deserve their call up.”
The full IRELAND SQUAD is as follows:
Forwards (19):
Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Shane Byrne (Saracens)
Reggie Corrigan (Greystones/Leinster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
Anthony Foley (Shannon/Munster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Shane Jennings (Leicester)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Johnny O’Connor (Wasps)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Backs (16):
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Guy Easterby (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Denis Hickie (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
David Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O’Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jeremy Staunton (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Not considered due to injury:
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)
Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
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