Declan Kidney announces squad for tour – Rugby News Update
Declan Kidney, the 52-year-old coach of Ireland, has announced the final squad for the tour of New Zealand, where his team plays the All Blacks’ in a three-match test series.
Ireland kick-off the tour by playing the first match at Auckland on June 9, before they play the second test at Christchurch on June 16, and they round off the tour by playing the third and final game at Hamilton, on June 23.
Kidney took over the Ireland post in 2008 and guided the team to an unprecedented Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009. Prior to working with the national team, he had experience of coaching the Ireland U-19’s and Munster, who he guided to the Heineken Cup.
He has added more faces to the squad that he had announced previously. Scrum-half, Isaac Boss of Leinster has been ruled out of the tour, and in his place Paul Marshall, who plays for Ulster will be joining up with the squad. Boss picked up a thigh injury
in the warm-up of the Heineken Cup final against Ulster.
Another injury concern for the Irish coach is Mike Ross, and in his place Ronan Loughney has been named in the squad to provide cover for the player.
Ireland has not got off to the best start for the summer tour, as they lost to the Barbarians a few days ago. However, such matches are used to blood all the players in for the gruelling tour. If Ireland harbours any wish of defeating the All Blacks, then
they have to be bring their top game against their southern hemisphere opponents.
Ireland squad:
Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Sean O'Brien (Leinster),
Donnacha O'Callaghan (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Mike Sherry (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Brett Wilkinson (Connacht)
Backs: Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster),
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster)
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