Kidney names 27-strong squad

Munster coach Declan Kidney has named a 27-strong squad to account for the doubts over Niall Ronan and Denis Fogarty ahead of Friday night's Magners League game against Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

There are a clutch of young players like forwards Sean Cronin, Michael Essex, David Sherry and Billy Holland and backs Keith Earls and Duncan Williams looking to force their way into contention.

The squad will train in Limerick today and the starting line-up will be announced before midday tomorrow.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v The Dragons): S Payne, K Earls, I Dowling, A Horgan, K Lewis, R Tipoki, L Mafi, J Manning, P Warwick, D Williams, G Hurley, T O'Leary, F Pucciariello, Darragh Hurley, T Buckley, T Ryan, D Fogarty, S Cronin, M Essex, M Melbourne, M O'Driscoll, B Holland, N Ronan, T O'Donnell, D Sherry, J Coughlan, A Foley.