Geordan Murphy Called Into National Squad

Leicester Tiger Geordan Murphy became the latest traveller to the Wicklow Hills when he was called in to the national squad as cover for Denis Hickie. Hickie sustained a hand injury in the Celtic League game against Bridgend and aggravated that injury today necessitating the call up for Murphy as a precautionary measure.

An earlier arrival at the team headquarters in the Glenview Hotel in Delgany was
Frank Sheahan who has been drafted in to replace injured captain Keith Wood.

Ireland Squad.

Backs: Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Ronan O’Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon) vice-captain, Kevin Maggs (Bath), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College) vice-captain, Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

Forwards: Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), Paul Wallace (Leinster/Blackrock College), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon) vice-captain, Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Victor Costello (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon).