Duffy named in Irish squad for South Africa

Harlequins hero Gavin Duffy has been named by Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan in his Irish squad to tour South Africa next month.

Duffy, a try-scorer in the English club side's victory in the Parker Pen Cup Final in is the only uncapped player in the 26-man squad.

The Harlequins player is one of 12 backs and 14 forwards leaving for South Africa on Saturday, June 5 to play the Springboks in a two match Test series, in Bloemfontein on June 12 and in Cape Town on June 19.

The Ireland management have also named two teams to play in a pre tour warm up game behind closed doors in Lansdowne Road on Friday next, May 28.

The Ireland squad to tour South Africa is:

Forwards (14): Simon Best (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon), John Hayes (Munster – Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St Mary’s College), Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster – Garryowen).

Backs (12): Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster – Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne), Tyrone Howe (Ulster – Dungannon), David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College) Captain, Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon).

On standby (9): Emmett Byrne (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster – Blackrock College), Neil Doak (Ulster – Ballymena), Shaun Payne (Munster – Dolphin), Bernard Jackman (Connacht – Clontarf), John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution), Paddy Wallace (Ulster – Ballymena), Roger Wilson (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins).

* Not Considered due to injury: Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St Mary’s College), Denis Hickie (Leinster – St Mary’s College).

Warm Up Game Teams, for which the Blues will be coached by Michael Bradley and the Whites by Mark McCall:

Blues

15. G. Dempsey*; 14. B. Burke, 13. J. Kelly, 12. K. Maggs**, 11. T. Howe, 10. R. O’Gara 9. P. Stringer, 1. M. Horan, 2. F. Sheahan, 3. J. Hayes, 4. D. Browne, 5. L. Cullen, 6. S. Easterby, 7. D. Wallace, 8. A. Foley (C)

Replacements: 16. B. Jackman, 17. R. McCormack, 18. T. Hogan, 19. N. McMillan, 20. K. Campbell, 21. D. Yapp, 22. M. Mostyn

Whites

15. B Cunningham, 14. S. Payne, 13. G. Duffy, 12. J. Holland, 11. A. Horgan, 10. P. Wallace, 9. G. Easterby, 1. R. Corrigan (C), 2. S. Byrne, 3. S. Best, 4. G. Longwell* 5. P. O’Connell, 6. R. Wilson, 7. A. Quinlan, 8. V. Costelloe

Replacments:16. P. Shields, 17. E. Byrne, 18. D. Pusey, 19. N. Best*, 20. B. O’Meara , 21. M. Mullins, 22. M. McPhail

*Girvan Dempsey is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he not play Matt Mostyn will start and his place on the bench will be taken by Conor McPhillips.

*Gary Longwell is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he not play David Pusey will start and his place on the bench will be taken by Aidan Kearney.

*Neil Best is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he become unavailable his place on the bench will be taken by John O’Sullivan.

** Kevin Maggs is selected subject to being released by Bath. If he becomes unavailable his place will be taken by Darren Yapp and his place will be taken by Seamus Mallon.

Not considered: Donncha O’Callaghan, Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Henderson, Ben Gissing, Brian O’Riordan, Matt McCullough, Mark McHugh, David Quinlan.

NB: On duty with the Barbarians: Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan, David Humphreys, Geordan Murphy, Malcolm O’Kelly, Eric Miller.