Persistent injury rules out Paul O’Connell

MUNSTER flanker Niall Ronan has received a call-up to the Irish squad for four big end-of-season fixtures on a weekend when it was confirmed that an on-going groin injury would prevent inspirational lock Paul O’Connell from playing again this season.


Ronan has been drafted into the Ireland squad for Friday night’s glamour tie with the Barbarians at Thomond Park and the subsequent tour to New Zealand and Australia in place of injured Leinster player Kevin McLaughlin.
Ronan, who won the first of his two caps last year on the summer tour to Canada and the USA, has joined up with the rest of the squad in Limerick as they prepare for the first game of the tour against the Baa-Baas.
Thirty-year-old Paul O’Connell had been selected in Declan Kidney’s initial 33-man party in the hope that he would recover from a groin injury.
O’Connell suffered the injury during Ireland’s final RBS 6 Nations game against Scotland and has failed to recover in time for the tour with Ulster’s Ed O’Donoghue being called up as his replacement.
The Irish rugby squad assembled in Limerick on Saturday to begin preparations for the clash with the Barbarians at Thomond Park on Friday evening.
The squad members trained at the University of Limerick yesterday and earlier today.
The starting line-up to face the Barbarians set to be named on Wednesday next.
The Thomond Park clash will be the first time that Ireland has played the Barbarians on home soil since 2000.
The game is the first of four big end-of-season international fixtures facing Declan Kidney’s side in the coming weeks.
Ireland face a meeting with New Zealand in New Plymouth on June 12 before locking horns with the New Zealand Maoris team in Rotorua on June 18 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 June 26.
The most recent meeting between Ireland and the Barbarians also coincided with the last Southern Hemisphere tour Ireland undertook in 2008 when Ireland played the Baa-Baas in Gloucester, winning the game 39-14.
The Barbarians were due to arrive in Limerick today following their 26-35 defeat to England at Twickenham yesterday. Munster full-back Paul Warwick featured for the Baa-Baas in that entertaining game.
The squad is due to hold a training session at Garryowen FC’s Dooradoyle grounds on Tuesday morning after which the side to face Ireland will be announced.
The Barbarians’ squad is coached by Philippe Saint-Andre who is assisted by Kingsley Jones. Both played for the Barbarians and worked successfully together in recent years as coaches with Sale Sharks.
Ireland’s summer match schedule - Friday, June 4: Barbarians v Ireland XV, Thomond Park, 7.45pm. Saturday, June 12: New Zealand v Ireland, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, 7.35pm (8.35am Irish time). Friday, June 18: New Zealand Maori v Ireland XV, International Stadium, Rotorua, 7.35pm (8.35am Irish time).
Meanwhile one Munster player, scrum half Tomas O’Leary, has been included in the 2009-10 Magners League ‘Dream Team’ announced this weekend.
Selected by a panel of 16 media experts from the three Celtic nations, who have been following the Magners League all season, the Dream Team features players from no fewer than seven of the ten clubs in the competition.

COLM KINSELLA