Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named a 32 man Ireland squad for the forthcoming Autumn International series games against South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

There are several players who return to the squad after missing the Ireland mini camp in September. In the forwards, John Hayes returns after suffering an ankle injury and his fellow prop Simon Best makes his first appearance in an Ireland squad since the RBS Six Nations last year after breaking his leg in the Magners league at the end of last season.

Another experienced international, Malcolm O'Kelly, also returns after recovering from his groin injury. One newcomer to the squad is Stephen Ferris, who has been part of the Ulster backrow throughout the season so far. Ferris is one of four uncapped players in the squad that include Jamie Heaslip, Paddy Wallace and Luke Fitzgerald.

In the backs, Gordon D'Arcy is named after missing the September camp due to his shoulder injury. John Kelly, who was originally selected in the September camp but had to pull out due to injury, also makes a return to the squad for the autumn.

Eddie O'Sullivan on the Autumn International Series: The November games represent a big challenge for this squad and are really the beginning of our build up to next year's World Cup. Playing two of the top ranked countries in the world and also a talented Pacific Islands side packed with the best players from three countries will really test the team and this squad. The games will also give us the opportunity to look at our options in certain positions before we head into the RBS Six Nations and the World Cup next year.

Eddie O'Sullivan on selecting the Squad: As always the squad is selected on form and with the provinces playing so well in the Heineken Cup, there were some very tough calls, particularly in the back five of the forwards. There were some great performances from so many players and there are several who were very unlucky not to make the cut.

The return of some of the players who missed out on our September camp is also welcomed as it will give us the experience that we will need going into three big weekends and will pretty much allow us to pick from a full hand, with the exception of Tommy Bowe, Johnny O'Connor and Jerry Flannery.

....Ulster's Stephen Ferris, being congrtaulated by Andrew Trimble, is one of four uncapped players in the Ireland squad...

Eddie O'Sullivan on newcomer Stephen Ferris: Stephen has played himself into what is a very competitive Ulster backrow and has benefited from the game time in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. We felt that it was a good time to bring him up to the next level to have a closer look at him and to see how he has progressed.

Ireland Squad in Full:

Forwards (17):
Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Easterby (Llaneli)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Keith Gleeson (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Matt McCullough (Ballymena/Ulster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)

Backs (15):
Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Denis Hickie (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jeremy Staunton (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Not considered due to injury:
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) {Leg}
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) {Shoulder}
Johnny O'Connor (Wasps) {Neck}

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