Sherry slowly moving up Irish pecking order

Munster’s Mike Sherry has edged closer to earning another call up to Declan Kidney’s Irish squad next week.

A combination of injury to Leinster’s Richardt Strauss and illness to his Munster colleague Damian Varley have helped bring him to the selectors’ attention, but Sherry is taking nothing for granted in his quest for international recognition.

So far, he has been a bit-part player for Ireland. He was brought in as cover for Rory Best at the 2011 World Cup but did not feature during this summer’s tour of New Zealand.