O’Driscoll Withdrawn From Irish Squad

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll will miss his first international for twelve months, after being ruled out of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations clash with Scotland due to a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old – who was officially withdrawn from the Ireland squad this evening – has failed to shake off the hamstring strain he sustained in last weekend’s 28-17 opening defeat of Italy.

His replacement will be confirmed tomorrow following training, with Shane Horgan or Kevin Maggs the leading contenders.

O’Driscoll’s midfield partner Gordon D’Arcy – who deputised for the skipper in last season’s opening 35-17 loss to France, ironically when O’Driscoll was also suffering from a hamstring injury – will undergo a fitness test on his own damaged hamstring in Dublin, tomorrow morning.

NEC Harlequins full-back Gavin Duffy is also on stand-by to come into the squad, should D’Arcy – who turned 25 today – fail his test.