Ireland will commence their preparations for the 2004 Bank of Scotland Six Nations championship with a weeklong fitness camp at the La Santa Training Centre in Lanzarote on December 14 to 21.

Ireland will commence their preparations for the 2004 Bank of Scotland Six Nations championship with a weeklong fitness camp at the La Santa Training Centre in Lanzarote on December 14 to 21.

The selected squad of 30 players does not include six from Ulster, who have been exempt in order to be available for the Celtic Cup final against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on December 21.

The Ulster players are - Gary Longwell, Simon Best, Neil Doak, Tyrone Howe, Paul Shields and Paddy Wallace, while a decision concerning out half David Humphreys will be made later in the week.

Not considered for the training camp because of injury are - Alan Quinlan, Leo Cullen, Denis Hickie, Geordan Murphy and Jonathan Bell.

The Irish Squad travelling is:

Forwards (16)

Emmet Byrne (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College), Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), John Hayes (Munster – Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon), Bernard Jackman (Connacht – Clontarf), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster), Donncha O’ Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Frank Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster – Garryowen).

Backs (14)

Gordon Darcy (Leinster – Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College), Rob Henderson (Munster – Garryowen), Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College), Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution), Brian O’Meara (Leinster – Cork Constitution), Brian O’ Riordan (Leinster – UCD), David Quinlan (Leinster – Blackrock College). Jeremy Staunton (Munster – Garryowen), Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon).

Not Considered:

Injured:

Jonathan Bell (Ulster – Dungannon), Leo Cullen (Leinster – Blackrock College), Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon);

Celtic Cup Ulster:

Gary Longwell (Ballymena), Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins), Neil Doak (Belfast Harlequins), Tyrone Howe (Dungannon), Paul Shields (Ballymena), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena).