D'Arcy out of Springbok test as O'Sullivan bolsters squad
One of the heroes of the last Six Nations Championship campaign was last night anxiously awaiting news of the medical prognosis after undergoing a scan to ascertain the extent of the injury.
He is certainly out of the November 13 test against the Springboks at Lansdowne Road, and as groin injuries are notoriously slow to heal, he will also struggle to make the following games against the USA and Argentina and even Leinster's December Heineken Cup home and away games against Bourgoin.
An IRFU spokesperson confirmed: "Following the results of a scan which revealed a groin muscle injury, Gordon D'Arcy has been ruled out of the international against South Africa. He will visit a groin specialist at the end of the week to determine a course of treatment."
Leinster fear he has no more than a "50% chance" of making it back for the pre-Christmas Heineken Cup games but the player was more upbeat last night.
"It's annoying and I don't know what the situation is but the doctors have neither ruled me in nor out of anything. I will know more in the next 24 hours."
Darcy's injury has forced Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan into a re-think on his squad for the three internationals. O'Sullivan last week named 27 players and intended adding three more to make up the planned squad of 30.
However in the circumstances, he has actually brought the squad up to 32 players, adding the names of Eric Miller, Victor Costello and Roger Wilson to the forwards and John Kelly and Gavin Duffy to the backs.
Meanwhile, Wasps scrum-half and former Wales captain Rob Howley has confirmed his retirement from rugby after failing to overcome a wrist injury that first surfaced earlier this year.
Howley underwent surgery in June, and an appointment with his consultant surgeon David Evans confirmed the inevitable.
Howley had also sought a second opinion recently from Doug Campbell, a Leeds-based wrist specialist.
"It is a very sad and scary feeling to be told that your rugby career is over," said Howley.
"I had high hopes of returning to Wasps and even pushing for a place in the Lions squad (to New Zealand next summer) but unfortunately it is not to be. I remember playing my first few games as a youngster in Wales and wondering how long my career would be, and when it would all end. Now, I know that answer.
"I didn't think a wrist injury would be the end of me, but sadly it is. I've had a fantastic career, at club level and internationally, and would like to thank everyone involved. I've met so many people along the way and made new friends."
Howley, who won 59 caps for Wales, 22 of those as captain, suffered the injury when he was stamped on during a Heineken Cup pool game between Wasps and French side
Perpignan.
He hopes to retain an involvement with rugby, and could embark on a coaching career.
"I would like to give something back to rugby," he added.
"I have said that I would like to give coaching a go, but starting at the bottom and working my way up.
"Who knows, but I will still be around the rugby circles."
The Irish full squad is:
FORWARDS (17): S. Best (Ulster), S. Byrne (Leinster), R. Corrigan (Leinster), V. Costello (Leinster), L. Cullen (Leinster), S. Easterby (LIanelli), A. Foley (Munster), J. Hayes (Munster), M. Horan (Munster), D. Leamy (Munster), E. Miller (Leinster), D. O'Callaghan (Munster), P. O'Connell (Munster), J. O'Connor (Wasps), M. O'Kelly (Leinster), F. Sheahan (Munster), R. Wilson (Ulster).
BACKS (15): T. Bowe (Ulster), G. D'Arcy (Leinster), G. Dempsey (Leinster), G. Duffy (Harlequins), G. Easterby (Leinster), D. Hickie (Leinster), A. Horgan (Munster), S. Horgan (Leinster), D. Humphreys (Ulster), J. Kelly (Munster), K. Maggs (Ulster), G. Murphy (Leicester), B. O'Driscoll (Leinster), R. O'Gara (Munster), P. Stringer (Munster).
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