Paul O’Connell has been included in Declan Kidney’s 33-man Ireland squad which will tour Australia and New Zealand this summer.
O’Connell had been a major doubt for the trip as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
Head coach, Kidney, has decided to include O’Connell, who hasn’t played since Ireland’s final RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland, regardless of the lock’s current fitness.
Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy and Luke Fitzgerald all miss out through injury.
The squad includes three uncapped players, Ulster forward pair Chris Henry and Dan Tuohy and Leinster centre Fergus McFadden.
Ireland will begin the tour with a game against the Barbarians in Thomond Park on Friday 4 June before flying out for a meeting with New Zealand in New Plymouth on 12 June.
The New Zealand Maoris team is the next opposition for Ireland in Rotorua on 18 June as part of the Maoris’ centenary celebrations. The final game of the tour will see Ireland playing their Rugby World Cup Pool C opponents Australia in Brisbane on 26 June.
Ireland squad for their 2010 summer tour to New Zealand and Australia:
Forwards: Rory Best, Tom Court, Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy (all Ulster), Sean Cronin, John Muldoon (both Connacht), Tony Buckley, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Mick O’Driscoll, David Wallace (all Munster), Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin (all Leinster).
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Gordon D’Arcy, Shane Horgan, Robert Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton (all Leinster), Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer (all Munster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace (both Ulster).
Â
