O’Gara Named in Irish Squad for Italy

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has announced a 25-strong squad from which the team to play Italy in the opening match of the 2005 RBS 6 Nations will be named next Wednesday.

The forwards all have experience of playing in the Championship, with the exception of back rowers Johnny O’Connor and Denis Leamy, who both made their debuts during the autumn internationals in 2004.

The forwards have over 400 caps between them, with O’Connor and Leamy the only pair who do not go into double digit figures in appearances.

Among the 11 backs named, Munster’s Ronan O’Gara is available for selection following the hand injury he sustained against Leinster, three weeks ago.

The squad of 25 players from which the Ireland team to play Italy in the opening game of the 2005 RBS Six Nations Championship in Stadio Flaminio, Rome at 2.30pm on Sunday, 6th February is as follows:

Forwards (14):

Shane Byrne (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Reggie Corrigan (Greystones/Leinster)

Simon Easterby (Lianeli)

Anthony Foley (Shannon/Munster)

John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Eric Miller (Terenure College/Leinster)

Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Johnny O’Connor (Wasps)

Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

Backs (11):

Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Guy Easterby (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Denis Hickie (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
David Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster)
Kevin Maggs (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Geordan Murphy(Leicester)
Brian O’Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara(Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter Stringer(Shannon/Munster)

Not considered due to injury:

Keith Gleeson(St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Neil McMillan(Ballymena/Ulster)