Keith Wood has been named in the Irish squad for Ireland’s Six Nations game against Wales at Lansdowne Road on Sunday, February 3rd but Wood insisted he has to play for Harlequins this weekend if he is to have any chance of playing for Ireland. The Irish captain has been out of action for over a month with a calf injury.
Injury could also threaten the chances of Leinster’s Shane Horgan and Malcolm O'Kelly of taking the field against Graham Henry’s side. Horgan has bounced back from the rib injury he sustained against Toulouse but is now troubled by a heel injury while Malcolm O'Kelly has not fully recovered from a bruised cheekbone.
The Irish selectors have left a vacancy at prop-forward with the missing player in the 22-man squad to be announced on Monday. Brian O'Meara and Kieron Dawson were not considered due to injury while Rob Henderson and promising Leinster wing forward Keith Gleeson have been named in the Ireland A squad.
The starting 15 for the game will be named on Wednesday following an open training session at Greystones RFC.
Ireland squad:
Forwards: Peter Clohessy, John Hayes, AN Other, Keith Wood, Frank Sheahan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Michael Galwey, Gary Longwell, Anthony Foley, Eric Miller, David Wallace, Simon Easterby.
Backs: Peter Stringer, Guy Easterby, David Humphreys, Ronan O'Gara, Kevin Maggs, Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Geordan Murphy.
The Ireland A rugby squad to play Wales A at Musgarve Park on Saturday February 2nd, at 2:30pm has also been announced.
Ireland A squad:
Forwards: Emmet Byrne, Paul Wallace, Reggie Corrigan, Marcus Horan, Shane Byrne, Paul Shields, Paul O'Connell, Jeremy Davidson, Leo Cullen, Victor Costelloe, Keith Gleeson, Alan Quinlan, Tony McWhirter.
Backs: Neil Doak, Ben Willis, Paul Burke, Rob Henderson, Jonathan Bell, John Kelly, Paddy Wallace, Gordon Darcy, Tyrone Howe, Anthony Horgan.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
