Crown heroes miss tour

TWO of Ireland’s senior Triple Crown heroes — Malcolm O’Kelly and Simon Easterby — have been ruled out of Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

They are joined on the list of non-travellers by Johnny O’Connor and Eoin Reddan, all forced out through injury.

O’Kelly (replaced by Leo Cullen) could face surgery for a groin strain, while Easterby and O’Connor have not played since sustaining injuries as they went head to head for Llanelli and Wasps respectively in the Powergen Cup final last month. Wasps scrum half Reddan is also suffering from a groin strain.