Ireland rugby coach Declan Kidney has left Munster's Jerry Flannery out of his squad to play in next month's international series, but has left the door open for his return from injury.

The Ireland team to play the Barbarians this Friday night in Thomond Park for the Mastercard Trophy contains four uncapped players.

Rory Best and Paul O'Connell have both been ruled out of the Ireland summer tour to New Zealand and Australia due to injury.

An Ireland squad of 33 players was today announced for the 2010 summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, with Munster talisman Paul O'Connell included.

For the time being, coach Michael Cheika has listed injury concerns Jonathan Sexton, Robert Kearney and Girvan Dempsey in his Leinster squad to face Toulouse in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi -final in Le Stadium, Toulouse.

Ireland have named an unchanged side for a second successive week as they close in on their fifth Triple Crown in seven seasons.

Coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged starting XV as Ireland prepare to take on Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Croke Park on Saturday.

Ireland's Robert Kearney will be out of action for one month, missing the Six Nations matches against England and Wales.

An Ireland squad of 44 players was today announced for the upcoming 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The two Ireland squads for next weekend's internationals against Tonga and Australia have been named today.

CJ van der Linde will start for the first time this season for Leinster against the Cardiff Blues in tomorrow's Magners League clash at the RDS (KO: 6.30pm).

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has included nine uncapped players in his 39 strong-squad for the upcoming Guinness Series of internationals in November against Australia, Fiji and South Africa.

Mike Ross will start at tight-head as the only change to the Leinster side to play London Irish in Friday's Heineken Cup Pool 6 match at The RDS (KO: 8pm).

Leinster full back Robert Kearney has to content himself with a place on the bench for Saturday's sell-out Magners League clash with Munster at The RDS (KO: 6.30pm).

A 34-man panel has been announced for the final Ireland training camp to take place in Dublin from September 14-15.

A 37-man panel has been announced for the next Ireland camp which is due to take place in Limerick from August 16-19.

Ireland's Robert Kearney could be in line for a starting place in the Lions second Test against South Africa next Saturday.

MURRAYFIELD isn’t where they would have chosen to meet their destiny – they’ve had too many unnerving moments at Scottish headquarters for their liking – but it’s the stadium in which Leinster intend to put their many demons to rest in this evening’s Heineken Cup final against Leicester.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has opted to retain Isa Nacewa ahead of Robert Kearney at full-back in the team to play the Leicester Tigers in Saturday's Heineken Cup final at Murrayfield (KO: 5pm).

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika is a straight-talking Aussie who would evidently lose it if he suspected even a scintilla of complacency in the camp ahead of Saturday’s final of the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield.

Captain Leo Cullen, Rocky Elsom and Brian O’Driscoll return to the Leinster Squad to prepare for the Heineken Cup final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Robert Kearney will make a bid for inclusion in the Heineken Cup final by impressing on his return to the Leinster side against The Dragons in Saturday night's Magners League clash at Rodney Parade (KO: 5.30pm).

Robert Kearney will make his bid for the Heineken Cup final by lining out with Leinster against The Dragons in Saturday's final Magners League game of the season at Rodney Parade (kick off: 5.30pm).

Johnathan Sexton and Sean O'Brien will start for Leinster against The Scarlets in Friday night's Magners League clash at The RDS (kick off: 7.45pm) has been named.

Ireland full-back Robert Kearney, ill with the mumps, has been ruled out of Leinster's Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster.

BERNARD JACKMAN regrets not having played a part in Ireland’s Grand Slam season, but he lavished praise on the management team for their role in the historical success.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes to the side that lost against Ireland for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has announced an enlarged 36 man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Game against England next Saturday.

Italy full-back Andrea Masi has been handed a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Ireland’s Robert Kearney last Sunday.

Italian full-back Andrea Masi has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Ireland's Robert Kearney by the independent Six Nations citing commissioner.

Brian O’Driscoll is hopeful Ireland’s talented backs can unleash their full potential against France on Saturday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has announced a reduced 27-man squad for the opening game in the RBS Six Nations Championship against France on Saturday, February 7.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has announced a 39-man squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship which begins for Ireland when they take on France in Croke Park in just over two weeks time.

Robert Kearney has been voted the Bank of Ireland Leinster Player of the Month for December 2008/January 2009.

Robert Kearney has finally been given the chance to play in his favoured full-back position for Leinster at home to Connacht in Friday night’s Magners League clash at the RDS (KO: 7.30pm).

Ireland internationals Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Malcolm O'Kelly and Bernard Jackman are included in the Leinster squad to play the Newport Gwent Dragons in Saturday's Magners League clash at the RDS (KO: 5.30pm).

Full back Geordan Murphy, hooker Jerry Flannery and backrow Stephen Ferris are the three changes to the Ireland team to take on Argentina in the Guinness Series 2008 from the team that was named to play New Zealand last Saturday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has erred on the side of caution in going for an extended 28-man squad ahead of the final game in the Guinness Series against Argentina this Saturday in Croke Park.

He finished last season as Munster’s Heineken Cup final full-back, but this term Denis Hurley is sampling some of the flip-sides of professional sport — including the injury which looks set to keep him out of tonight’s clash. EDWARD NEWMAN reports.

THERE was a sharp edge to Declan Kidney’s tone that we don’t often hear after Saturday’s defeat by the All Blacks.

The Ireland team to play New Zealand shows six changes from the starting team that opened with a victory over Canada in Thomond Park last Saturday.

DECLAN Kidney was his usual calm, unflappable self after Saturday’s 55-0 thrashing of Canada at Thomond Park.

NOW we can turn to the real business of the November internationals. Saturday’s training run against Canada at stormy Thomond Park showed up some minor shortcomings but otherwise it was a futile exercise for new Ireland coach Declan Kidney.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has finalised the replacements for Ireland's game against Canada tomorrow at Thomond Park.