O'Gara to lead side against Barbarians

Rugby:Five uncapped players have been named in an Ireland XV to take on the Barbarians in Gloucester tomorrow evening, a side that will be captained by Ronan O'Gara.

Though not a capped match, Declan Kidney has named a frontrow that sees props Brett Wilkinson and Declan Fitzpatrick pack down on either side of Mike Sherry.

There are also two uncapped players named in the wing positions, with Ulster’s Craig Gilroy named on the right flank and Munster’s Simon Zebo on the left.

Paddy Wallace and Darren Cave form the centre partnership, with Keith Earls starting at fullback and O’Gara partnered by his Munster colleague Conor Murray at halfback.

Dan Tuohy and Donnacha Ryan form a new secondrow partnership at this level while Peter O’Mahony starts at number eight, with John Muldoon and Chris Henry completing the backrow.

There are also four uncapped players named on the bench, with the Ulster duo of centre Nevin Spence and scrumhalf Paul Marshall joined by the forward pairing of Connacht prop Ronan Loughney and Munster backrow James Coughlan.

Meanwhile, Leinster scrumhalf Isaac Boss has been ruled out of Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand after failing to recover from a troublesome thigh injury.

The IRFU also confirmed this evening that Paul O'Connell will continue his rehabilitation on a knee injury "in London for the remainder of this week and a final decision will be made on Friday on whether he will fly out to join up with the squad".

A statement added: "The other remaining positions to be confirmed in the touring squad will be named on Wednesday (May 30th) after tomorrow’s game against the Barbarians."

Ireland XV (v Barbarians, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Tuesday May 29th, 7.35pm): Keith Earls (Munster); Craig Gilroy (Ulster)*, Darren Cave (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster)*; Ronan O'Gara (Munster) (Captain), Conor Murray (Munster); Brett Wilkinson (Connacht)*, Mike Sherry (Munster)*, Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster)*; Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster); John Muldoon (Connacht), Chris Henry (Ulster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster).

Replacements:Rory Best (Ulster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht)*, Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), James Coughlan (Munster)*, Paul Marshall (Ulster)*, Nevin Spence (Ulster)*, Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

*Denotes uncapped player