LONDON – Joe Schmidt has kept any real Irish surprises for the World Cup disguised after staying true to the team that drove Ireland to 6 Nations glory in naming his 45-man training squad.
Most of the squad that won the 6 Nations in March are represented in Schmidt’s Rugby World Cup training squad. However the most notable omission is Ian Keatley who misses out despite starring at out-half in Ireland’s win over Italy earlier this year.
Ireland’s 2014 Player of the Year Andrew Trimble returns to the Irish set-up after missing the majority of the season through a toe injury he sustained in October last year. Inspirational Irish captain Paul O’Connell returns to the helm of the team.
Ireland will play four matches over August and September before Schmidt will be forced to cut the team down to 31 for the Rugby World Cup
Wales v Ireland – Cardiff – August 8 2015
Ireland v Scotland – Dublin – August 15 2015
Ireland v Wales – Dublin – August 29 2015
England v Ireland – London – September 5 2015
Ireland training squad:
Forwards – R Best, M Bent, Jack Conan, S Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, C Healy, J Heaslip, I Henderson, C Henry, R Herring, D Kilcoyne, J McGrath, M Moore, J Murphy, S O’Brien, P O’Connell, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony, M Ross, D Ryan, R Strauss, D Toner, D Tuohy;
Backs – I Boss, T Bowe, D Cave, G D’Arcy, K Earls, L Fitzgerald, C Gilroy, R Henshaw, P Jackson, F Jones, D Kearney, R Kearney, I Madigan, K Marmion, F McFadden, C Murray, J Payne, E Reddan, N Reid, J Sexton, A Trimble, S Zebo.