The squad of 40 players to take part in an Ireland training camp in Athlone next week includes Keith Wood, who has not played Test rugby since playing against Russia in the World Cup qualifying match on September 21 last.
The Ireland squad training will feature a Public Open Session at Buccaneers ground, Dubarry Park, Athlone on Wednesday, August 6 from 2 to 3 pm when players will be available to sign autographs. (NB: A Media Conference will take place in the clubhouse at 3.15 pm).
Three players not considered for the training camp owing to injury are: Ronan O'Gara (Munster - Cork Constitution, wrist), Emmet Byrne (Leinster - St. Mary's College, neck) and James Topping (Ulster - Ballymena, groin).
The Athlone training squad of 40 is:
Forwards
(21) - Simon Best (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster - Greystones), Leo Cullen (Leinster - Blackrock College), Victor Costello (Leinster - St. Mary 's College), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres), 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), Donnacha O'Callaghan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Paul O'Connell (Munster - Young Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Alan Quinlan (Munster - Shannon), Paul Shields (Ulster - Ballymena), David Wallace (Munster - Garryowen), Keith Wood ( - ).
Backs
(19) - Jonathan Bell (Ulster - Dungannon), Justin Bishop (London Irish), Paul Burke (Harlequins), Gordon Darcy (Leinster - Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College), Neil Doak (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Rob Henderson (Munster - Garrywoen), Denis Hickie (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Anthony Horgan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Shane Horgan (Leinster - Lansdowne), Tyrone Howe (Ulster - Dungannon), David Humphreys (Ulster - Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster - Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O'Meara (Leinster - Cork Constitution), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Blackrock College), Peter Stringer (Munster - Shannon).