Gavin Duffy is the only uncapped player in the 26-man squad named by Ireland Coach Eddie O Sullivan to tour South Africa next month.
The Harlequins player is one of 12 backs and 14 forwards leaving for South Africa on Saturday, June 5 to play the Springboks in a two match Test series, in Bloemfontein on June 12 and in Cape Town on June 19.
The Ireland management have also named two teams to play in a pre tour warm up game behind closed doors in Lansdowne Road on Friday next, May 28.
Girvan Dempsey is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he not play Matt Mostyn will start and his place on the bench will be taken by Conor McPhillips.
Gary Longwell is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he not play David Pusey will start and his place on the bench will be taken by Aidan Kearney.
Neil Best is selected subject to passing a fitness test. Should he become unavailable his place on the bench will be taken by John O’Sullivan.
Kevin Maggs is selected subject to being released by Bath. If he becomes unavailable his place will be taken by Darren Yapp and his place will be taken by Seamus Mallon.
IRISH SQUAD:
Forwards (14): Simon Best (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon), John Hayes (Munster – Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution), Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon), Frank
Sheahan (Munster – Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster – Garryowen).
Backs (12): Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster – Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne), Tyrone Howe (Ulster – Dungannon), David
Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College) Captain, Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon).
Standby (9): Emmett Byrne (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster – Blackrock College), Neil Doak (Ulster – Ballymena), Shaun Payne (Munster – Dolphin), Bernard Jackman (Connacht – Clontarf), John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution), Paddy Wallace (Ulster – Ballymena), Roger Wilson (Ulster – Belfast
Harlequins).
Filed by James McMahon
