Kidney waits on O’Connell

DECLAN KIDNEY will give Paul O’Connell “every chance” to prove his fitness after naming the injured Munster lock in his 33-man squad for Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

O’Connell hasn’t played since Ireland’s final Six Nations game, against Scotland, on March 20 and it had been speculated that he would be excused duty from the trip down under as he struggles to recover from what is proving to be a persistent groin injury.

Among those who have been omitted because of injury are Stephen Ferris (broken cheekbone), Denis Leamy, Luke Fitzgerald (both knee) and Donncha Ryan (shoulder) while Sean O’Brien’s lack of game time since returning from a broken leg has ruled him out.