The 31 strong Ireland squad for The Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations opener has been announced and will assemble this week in the Citywest Hotel in Saggart ahead of a three day training session. Training wll be conducted at Naas RFC and the squad will be reduced to 22 next Friday with the actual starting line-up due to be announced on Wednesday (12th).
Forwards:Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), Victor Costello, (Leinster/St. Mary's College), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock/College), Jeremy Davidson (Ulster/Dungannon), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary's College), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary's College), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution).
Backs: Gordon Darcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary's College), Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College) capt, David Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock College), Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon).
The following players were not considered due to injury: Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon) Justin Bishop (London Irish), Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St. Mary's College), Tyrone Howe (Ulster/Dungannon), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Young Munster), David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen), Paul Wallace (Lenister/Blackrock College), Keith Wood (Harlequins). 7