Eleven Ulster Players In 45 Man Ireland World Cup Training Squad

Eleven Ulster players have been named in Joe Schmidt's 45 man World Cup training squad.

Eleven Ulster players have been named in Joe Schmidt's 45 man World Cup training squad.

Hookers Rory Best and Rob Herring are joined by fellow forwards Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Dan Tuohy.

Backs Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson and Jared Payne are all included, as is Andrew Trimble who is available following the toe injury that kept him out for much of last season.

The squad will start preparations at the end of June and will play in a four Test match Guinness Summer Series across August and September. Paul O'Connell has been named captain of the squad.

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt, commented, "The squad selection has been a long process with some very tight decisions. Some injured players who are getting close to full fitness have been included while others have missed out due to prolonged absence or lack of opportunity to demonstrate their full Test Match readiness."

"Rhys Ruddock would have been selected but has been ruled him out after fracturing his arm against Uruguay last week."

The 2015 Guinness Summer Series will see Ireland take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday 8th August before hosting Scotland a week later at the Aviva Stadium. On Saturday 29th August, Wales come to the Aviva Stadium with the final game of the series taking place in Twickenham against England on Saturday 5th September.

Tickets for the two home games of the Guinness Summer Series are available from www.ticketmaster.ie

IRELAND Training Squad
Forwards (23)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
 
Backs (22)
Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
 
*Denotes uncapped player
 
 
2015 GUINNESS SUMMER SERIES FIXTURES
 
Wales v IRELAND
Millennium Stadium
Saturday 8th August, 2015
KO: 14:30
 
IRELAND v Scotland
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 15th August, 2015
KO: 17:00
 
IRELAND v Wales
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 29th August, 2015
KO: 14:30
 
England v IRELAND
Twickenham Stadium
Saturday 5th September, 2015
KO: 14:30