The remaining places in the Ireland touring squad to New Zealand have been confirmed. Several spots were left unfilled as players were given further time to prove their fitness in the game against the Barbarian’s.
Chris Henry and Brett Wilkinson both came through the game after recent injury concerns and will take their places among the forwards and are joined by Mike McCarthy, who will travel to New Zealand as precautionary cover for Paul O’Connell who is continuing his recovery from a knee injury. A final decision on O’Connell’s participation will be made on Friday.
There are also two further uncapped players making the trip to the home of the World Champions with scrumhalf Paul Marshall named in the squad along with prop Ronan Loughney, who will be providing further cover for the front row including Mike Ross who is currently recovering from a hamstring strain.
The Ireland team will depart from London for New Zealand on Thursday morning.
Ireland Squad (New Zealand Tour 2012 with test matches on June 9th, 16th and 23rd):
Forwards (17):
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster)*
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
Ronan Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena /Ulster)
Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Backs (13):
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
