Six Nations: O'Driscoll and Hickie will play against France

The Irish rugby squad for the Six Nations Championship game against France has been announced.

Leinster stars Brian O'Driscoll and Denis Hickie return from injury as expected to the Ireland squad to face France on Saturday, February 17.

The duo replace the Munster pair of Shane Horgan and Mike Mullins, with the rest of the squad as for the Italian game.

Horgan and Mullins drop down to the A Squad, at the expense of Jonathan Bell and Justin Bishop.

Victor Costello also returns from injury to take the place of Leo Cullen.

Ireland squad for Six Nations match against France in Dublin on February 17

Backs: G Dempsey (Terenure College), D Hickie (St Mary’s College), T Howe (Dungannon), K Maggs (Bath), B O’Driscoll (Blackrock College), R Henderson (London Wasps), D Humphreys (Dungannon), R O’Gara (Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Shannon), B O’Meara (Cork Constitution). Forwards: J Hayes (Shannon), P Clohessy (Young Munster), E Byrne (Blackrock College), K Wood (Harlequins), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), M O’Kelly (St Mary’s College), M Galwey (Shannon), J Davidson (Castres), A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Quinlan (Shannon), A Ward (Ballynahinch).