Rugby: Davidson dropped from Irish squad

Ireland have dropped Lions tourist Jeremy Davidson from their squad for next week’s Six Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff.

Davidson is the only player axed following Ireland’s 32-10 defeat by Scotland 11 days ago, although both wing Geordan Murphy and flanker Simon Easterby miss out through injury.

Veteran Munster captain Mick Galwey wins a recall to the 22-man squad at Davidson’s expense.

But Galwey, 34, will have to wait until next Tuesday before knowing whether he has made the starting line-up. Malcolm O’Kelly and Gary Longwell are the other locks in coach Warren Gatland’s party.

Leicester star Murphy is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during the Scotland game and his place has been taken by Galwey’s Munster colleague Mike Mullins.

Easterby was hurt in Llanelli’s Heineken Cup defeat at Leicester last Saturday, taking a heavy blow that has ruled him out of the October 13 Wales clash, so Gatland has called up ex-Tigers forward Eric Miller.

If Ireland lose to Wales, then England are guaranteed the Six Nations title before tackling Ireland in Dublin on October 20.

Backs: G Dempsey (Terenure College), S Horgan (Lansdowne), D Hickie (St Mary’s College), M Mullins (Young Munster), B O’Driscoll (Blackrock College), K Maggs (Bath), R O’Gara (Cork Constitution), D Humphreys (Dungannon), G Easterby (Llanelli), P Stringer (Shannon).

Forwards: P Clohessy (Young Munster), J Hayes (Shannon), E Byrne (St Mary’s College), K Wood (Harlequins), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), M O’Kelly (St Mary’s College), G Longwell (Ballymena), M Galwey (Shannon), A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen), K Dawson (London Irish), E Miller (Terenure College).