Ronan O’Gara has been excluded from Declan Kidney’s 32-man Irish training squad for next Saturday’s Six Nations clash against France at the Aviva Stadium.
O’Gara has come on as a substitute in both of Ireland’s defeats to England and Scotland this season, but has had a poor season by his own standards. Today’s news looks like bringing down the curtain on the Cork man’s international career, during which he has won 128 caps and scored over 1,000 points.
Jonathan Sexton has been named in the squad, despite currently carrying a hamstring injury, while Ulster’s Paddy Jackson and Leinster’s Ian Madigan are the other outhalves selected.
Both Robbie Henshaw and Daren Cave were not considered due to picking up concussions while playing for their provinces. A full medical update will take place tomorrow at the Ireland team media session at 1.00pm, but none of the 32 members of the training squad have been ruled out of contention for selection against France.
SQUAD – Backs: Rob Kearney (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Eoin O’Malley (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster).
Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Seán Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Seán O’Brien (Leinster), Tommy O’Donnell (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Robbie Diack (Ulster).
