Hamstring injury rules Lyne out of U21 World Cup

IRISH under-21 captain John Lyne is out of Ireland’s World Cup quest in England this week.

Lyne sustained a hamstring strain and is replaced in the party by Eugene McGovern of Old Crescent.

The captaincy has been given to Stephen Keogh (UCC) and coach Michael Bradley, who takes over the running of Connacht rugby following this tournament, is confident of a good showing with, or without Lyne.

"John is a player of high quality and will be a loss, but we have been lucky because we have a fairly full squad from which to choose."

Ireland take on world champions South Africa in Oxford tomorrow and Bradley is conscious it is a huge ask.

"I reckon we have had a fairly good season. We were ranked sixth after last year's World Cup but our performances in the Six Nations have pushed us up to fifth in the world.

"We want to go a little bit further than that. Granted, the game against South Africa will be very difficult, but there is no way we will be ruled out even if we lose our opening game."

Ireland also play Argentina at Oxford next week. In the meantime, the hard-fought victory over Scotland whom they play at Newbury on

Tuesday a few months ago, will be uppermost in their minds.The formula for this under-21 World Cup is a bit complicated, but Bradley stressed that Ireland could lose to South Africa and still be involved in the shake-up for the title.

"It depends on what happens to other teams and on what we can do to recover if we did happen to lose to South Africa. I am fairly confident, however, of the guys giving a good account of themselves."

Meanwhile, in what has to be the most ambitious undertaking by any rugby club in the country, 60 players from Connacht junior club Monivea, jet off to Cape Town next week on the start of a three week tour.

The tour, organised by Padraig McGann, aims to raise €1 million to promote rugby in the west of Ireland, particularly in Monivea.

This second tour of the Cape area will be aimed at pupils from Mount Bellew, New Inn and the Vocational and Presentation Schools in Athenry.

It is envisaged 160 14-15 year olds (eight teams) will travel in June 2004.

The Ireland under-21 squad: forwards: R Best (Belfast Harlequins), K Corrigan (UCD), S Crawford (UCD), D Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins),

D Gannon (UCD), S Keogh (UCC) captain; E McGovern (Old Crescent) J Moran (UCD), J Muldoon (Galwegians), N McComb (Dundee University), M McComish (Ballymena), S O'Connor (Cork Constitution), C Potts (St Marys College),

N Ronan (Lansdowne). Backs: T Bowe (Queens University), J Hearty (Blackrock College), R Lane (UCC), K Matthews (UL Bohemians), B Murphy (UL Bohemians), D McAllister (Terenure College), N McClelland (London Irish), P O'Brien (UCC),

C O'Loughlin (Buccaneers), F O'Loughlin (Shannon), M Rainey (Glasgow Hawks), G Telford (Instonians).

Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Scotland.

Pool B: Australia, France, Spain.

Pool C: New Zealand, England, Italy.

Pool D: Wales, Ireland, Canada