Players to enjoy new year break as O’Sullivan cancels Irish rugby camp

THE Ireland rugby training camp scheduled for January 1st to January 4th has been cancelled by the Ireland management.

A squad of 35 players was due to take part in the pre-RBS Six Nations camp in Dublin following the schedule of Celtic League fixtures over the Christmas period, but team management have now made the decision to cancel the camp. The decision was made to allow the players sufficient recovery time following these fixtures.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said yesterday: "This camp has always been part of the season schedule and has been planned since September, but after weighing up the schedule that the players have over the Christmas period and New Year, we have decided to cancel the early January training camp."

He continued: "The majority of the players in the 35-man squad are still heavily involved in trying to qualify for the latter stages of the European competitions, so on balance it was felt that the players would be best served by resting during this time and to allow them to prepare fully with their provinces and clubs."

An IRFU source said yesterday that the decision had not been made following representations from members of the squad.

"No, the players didn't come to management about cancelling the camp. The decision was made by management and the players were informed during the Lanzarote training camp.

"Management just felt the players would benefit from the break, they were obviously mindful that the players have to be looked after. Given how busy the schedule was for the provinces coming up to Christmas, over the holidays and on into the new year, it was just felt that they'd be better off for the break.

"The players will be back in camp with Ireland after the final game of the pool stages of the Heineken Cup, which brings us to around January 22.

"The cancellation was purely a management decision looking at the schedule as arranged, it had been in place from the early planning stages of the year, but obviously the players' welfare is the paramount consideration, and management decided they'd be better off without the training camp."