Squad named for season warm-up
None of the five were considered when coach Eddie O'Sullivan named a squad of 22 from which the team to play Romania will be announced next week.
But O'Sullivan is heartened by the return of Rob Henderson, Kevin Maggs and Denis Hickie as well as Eric Miller following the tour to New Zealand in June.
Miller was the only one of the group to make the trip but was injured in the opening game and did not feature in either of the two Test matches against the All Blacks.
The balance of fitness and injury has always been a difficult one for Irish coaches but, even in a depleted state, they should be far too strong for the beleaguered and cash starved Romanians.
The staging of the game in Limerick will still be greeted enthusiastically in the province that has given most to raise Ireland's profile over the last four seasons despite Ulster's Heineken Cup victory and the win by Leinster in the Celtic League final.
The capacity of Thomond Park is about 14,000. Stand tickets are sold out and it will be standing room only for the remainder of the enthusiastic fans. But the Irish Rugby Football Union are hopeful of pulling in at least 10,000.
After that, Ireland prepare for a Rugby World Cup qualifier against Russia in Siberia and a later fixture against Georgia at Lansdowne Road.
All three games should be good for the players' win bonus status and for Ireland's qualification for next year's World Cup tournament in Australia.
Munster have named their 32-strong squad for the Celtic League ahead of the opening game next Saturday against Llanelli.
As expected, there is no sign of O'Connell, Wallace or Horgan who are all on the long-term injured list, and also omitted is Martin Cahill who is out for up to four weeks.
Those players involved with the international squad will be available for the opening round game but will then miss the four following rounds.
There is a provision in the rules of the competition to bring in players at a later stage on a permit basis, but there appears to be some confusion how that permit agreement will work.
Unlike the European Cup and Shield, there is no central registration centre. Instead, the 16 teams involved the three countries will have to work through their various unions and take instructions from their various unions on the matter of registration.
The Irish squad of 22 is: Backs: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster Terenure College), John Kelly (Munster Cork Constitution), Denis Hickie (Leinster St Mary's College), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Rob Henderson (Munster Young Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster Blackrock College), David Humphreys (Ulster Dungannon), Ronan O'Gara (Munster Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster Shannon), Guy Easterby (Llanelli).
Forwards: Reggie Corrigan (Leinster Greystones), John Hayes (Munster Shannon), Paul Wallace (Leinster Blackrock College), Keith Wood (Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster Blackrock College), Gary Longwell (Ulster Ballymena), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster St Mary's College), Leo Cullen (Leinster Blackrock College), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster Terenure College), Keith Gleeson (Leinster St Mary's College).
Munster Squad: Forwards: James Blaney, John Fogarty, Anthony Foley, Mick Galwey, Eddie Halvey, John Hayes, Trevor Hogan, Marcus Horan, Simon Kerr, Denis Leamy, Colm McMahon, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Warren O'Kelly, Alan Quinlan, Frank Sheahan, Jim Williams capt.
Backs: Dominic Crotty, Rob Henderson, Jason Holland, Clinton Huppert, Killian Keane, John Kelly, Mossy Lawlor, Conor Mahony, Dominic Malone, Mike Mullins, Ronan O'Gara, John O'Neill, Mike Prendergast, Jeremy Staunton, Peter Stringer.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
