Four Additions To Ireland Squad

Hooker Jerry Flannery (left) getting set alongside Ireland prop Marcus Horan for a scrum during Munster’s Heineken Cup pool win against Castres Olympique last month.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has added four players to his squad ahead of next Saturday’s permanent tsb International against Romania at Lansdowne Road (kick-off 12.30pm).

In the forwards, Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has been called into the squad and is joined by two of his provincial colleagues – second row duo Mick O’Driscoll and Trevor Hogan, who have been added as cover for Malcolm O’Kelly (concussion) and Matt McCullough (dead leg).

Leinster lock O’Kelly suffered concussion during the 30-14 loss to Australia last Saturday and is unlikely to be available for selection. Young Ulster star McCullough is undergoing treatment on a dead leg and has not been ruled out of contention for the Romanian game.

In the backs, Munster’s John Kelly has also been added to the squad as cover for Shane Horgan (dead leg).

Centre/wing Kelly’s seventeenth and last Ireland cap came in the 2003 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France two years ago. Hogan, who turned 26 two days ago, was used as a replacement in the two summer Tests against Japan in June, while O’Driscoll won his first of two caps against Romania in 2001. Flannery has yet to earn Test recognition.

The Ireland team and replacement for the Test match against Romania will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Citywest Hotel (1.00pm), following a squad training session at Clongowes Wood College in Kildare.