Earls withdraws from squad over baby scare

Ireland rugby star Keith Earls was last night “hopeful and optimistic” that his newborn daughter will be released from hospital over the weekend, Irish team management said.

Munster centre Earls, 24, yesterday withdrew from Ireland’s squad for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Wales after baby Ella-Maye was re-admitted to hospital in Limerick on Wednesday.

Earls’ partner Edel McGee had given birth the previous week but the baby was taken ill. Ireland team management decided it was in the best interests of the player and his family that he spend the weekend with them rather than playing test-match rugby.

Irish coach Declan Kidney has drafted Leinster’s Fergus McFadden into the centre, and team manager Mick Kearney explained: “Unfortunately, Keith’s baby daughter has been taken ill and is in hospital as we speak. The nature of the illness is unclear. However, I did speak to Keith this morning and he was hopeful and optimistic that the baby would get home sometime over the weekend.

“It was decided on Tuesday and Wednesday to give Keith some extra time to spend with Edel and child. The baby went into hospital on, I think, Wednesday and Declan was in touch with Keith and it was decided that he’d make a call on it sooner rather than later. He spoke to Keith yesterday and came to the decision that it was in everybody’s best interest, especially Keith and Edel and their families, that Keith would remain in Limerick for the weekend.

“I think the best decision was made for Keith, and that was the primary concern of Declan and the rest of the management team. Our thoughts are very much with Keith and Edel and the baby.”

Earls had been Kidney’s first choice to fill the breach at outside centre created by the long-term absence of injured captain Brian O’Driscoll. Now, the task falls to O’Driscoll’s provincial team-mate McFadden as Ireland bid to gain revenge for their World Cup quarter-final defeat by the Welsh in New Zealand last October.