Ireland training squad announced

The Ireland Squad of 33 to attend a two-day training session on Wednesday and Thursday.

Props: Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon).

Hookers: Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution).

Locks: Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena). Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster/ Cork Constitution), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary’s College).

Back row: Victor Costello, (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon).

Scrumhalf: Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon).

No 10: Paul Burke (Harlequins), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), Ronan O’Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution).

Centres: Rob Henderson (Munster / Young Munster), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College), David Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock College) Jeremy Staunton (Munster/Garryowen).

Wings: Gordon D’ Arcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne) John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), James Topping (Ulster / Ballymena).

Fullback: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

Not considered due to injury: Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon) {Shoulder}, Justin Bishop (London Irish) {Finger}, Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St. Mary’s College) {Calf}, Reggie Corrigan Leinster/Greystones) {Wrist}, Paul O’Connell (Munster/Young Munster) {Thumb}, David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen) {Shoulder}, Paul Wallace (Lenister/Blackrock College) {Shoulder}, Keith Wood (Harlequins) {Shoulder}.

The squad to play France will be announced later this week and the team will be announced on Tuesday, March 4.