Injured Earls in Champions Cup squad

Even though Anthony Foley was far from optimistic about Keith Earls’ prospects of being given the all clear at his consultation with a top Swedish consultant in London on Monday next, the Munster head coach has included the Ireland and Lions centre in his 38-man European Champions Cup squad.

Earls is currently ruled out with a knee injury but until he has heard otherwise, Foley is determined to give him every chance to prove his fitness for the four European games in October and December.

However, among those sidelined until Christmas at the earliest are second-row Donnacha Ryan and hooker Mike Sherry.