Schmidt names new Ireland squad for internationals

Joe Schmidt has chosen his international squad of 42 players to begin training for Ireland rugby games in November.

The squad is made up of primarily Leisnter and Munster players, with 19 and 11 respectively, and features all the expected names like O’Driscoll, Sexton, O’Connell and Healy.

Schmidt said the group was mainly made up of ‘tried and proven’ players with a few new faces thrown in, and that he was carefully watching several young players in the RaboDirect Pro 12 tournament.

“Selection was difficult as it’s the first time we have had to narrow our focus a bit and determine a cut off point for players. A number of selections were very tight which is positive,� Schmidt said.

Players players like Andrew Trimble, Felix Jones, Tommy O’Donnelll, Michael Bent, Stuart Oldring, and Craig Gilroy were not considered because of injuries, but would be looked at in the future.

The players will assemble at Carton House on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning to prepare for the Guinness Series in November.

Ireland Training Squad

1. Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)

2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

3. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)

4. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

5. James Coughlan (Dolphin/Munster)

6. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

7. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

8. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

9. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

10. Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)

11. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

12. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

13. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

14. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)

15. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)

16. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)

17. Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

18. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

19. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)

20. David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemian/Munster)

21. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)

22. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)

23. Mike McCarthy (Leinster)

24. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

25. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

26. Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

27. Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers)

28. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

29. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)

30. Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

31. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

32. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)

33. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)

34. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

35. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

36. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

37. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)

38. Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)

39.Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)

40. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

41. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

42. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Article source: http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-breaking-news/9750/england-u20-name-team-for-jwc-opener/

Schmidt names new Ireland squad for internationals