Nine Munster players on Irish Squad

Nine Munster players have been selected on the Ireland Squad of 25 to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday, March 22nd.

Nine Munster players have been selected on the Ireland Squad of 25 from which the team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday, March 22nd at 14.00hrs will be announced.

Forwards:

Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), Victor Costello, (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon) Vice Captain, Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary s College), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Malcolm O Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution), A.N. Other.

Backs:

Justin Bishop (London Irish), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary s College), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon) Vice Captain, John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), Brian O Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College) Captain, Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon).

Not considered due to injury:

Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon) {Shoulder}, Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Lansdowne) {Arm}, Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne) {Thigh}, David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen) {Shoulder}, Paul Wallace (Lenister/Blackrock College) {Shoulder}, Keith Wood (Harlequins) {Shoulder}.

The Irish management have made the following players available for their clubs this weekend:

Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St. Mary s College), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), Paul O Connell (Munster/Young Munster), Ronan O Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon) and Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution).

The team to play Wales will be announced on Tuesday, March 18th at Citywest Hotel (Banqueting Centre, adjacent to main hotel entrance) at 12.45 approx. following an Open Training session between 11 am and 12 noon at Terenure College. Management and selected players will be available at Citywest Banqueting Centre only. Specific interview requests should be made to John Redmond/Karl Richardson in advance of Tuesday, March 18th.