THE Ireland rugby coaching team have called up Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Ian Madigan and Tiernan O’Halloran to replace Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney who have been ruled out of the tour due to injury.
Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Johnny Sexton picked up injuries in last Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 final. Fitzgerald sustained a knee ligament injury, Dave Kearney picked up a calf strain and Johnny Sexton injured his shoulder which has resulted in the player undergoing a minor procedure this week. All three players are expected to return to action at the start of next season.
Rob Kearney pulled up in training yesterday and a subsequent scan has shown a hamstring strain that will rule him out of the tour.
The squad departs for South Africa on Sunday 5th June and will play Tests in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Ireland last toured South Africa in 2004.
All three Tests will be broadcast live on SKY Sports. Visit irishrugby.ie and the IRFU’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel for all the latest news, images and videos from Ireland’s Tour of South Africa.
Ireland Squad for 2016 Summer Tour of South Africa
Forwards (18)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)
Sean Cronin (St Marys/Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jack McGrath (St Marys/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Rhys Ruddock (St Marys/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Backs (14)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Matt Healy (Connacht)*
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
*uncapped
Ireland Summer Tour 2016 Fixtures
South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday 11th June, 2016
DHL Newlands Stadium KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday 18th June, 2016
Emirates Airline Park KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday 25th June, 2016
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
