Wood Returns to Ireland squad

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).