Two new players in Ireland squad

Joe Schmidt has named 45 players as part of Ireland’s extended training squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Included are 12 British & Irish Lions tourists and 18 of the group that participated in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Leinster are the most represented province in the team, contributing 22 players, followed by Ulster with 11, Munster with 9, and Connacht with only 2. Jonny Sexton of Racing in France is the only non-Ireland based player included.

Munster’s Paul O’Connell continues as captain, and there are two uncapped players, Leinster duo Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan. Both players were part of Ireland’s World u20 Championship squad in 2012.

Ulster centre Stuart Olding and Leinster back row Rhys Ruddock were not considered due to injury. Olding ruptured knee ligaments in March, while Ruddock broke his arm against Uruguay in Tbilisi last week.

Ireland are in Pool D at the World Cup, along with Canada, France, Italy, and Romania.

FORWARDS
Michael Bent (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Paul O’Connell (capt., Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Tommy O’Donnell (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster)

BACKS
Isaac Ross (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Jared Payne (Ulster), Noel Reid (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster), Felix Jones (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster)