The 33-man squad for the seven day pre-Christmas training camp in the sunshine of the Canaries later this month was announced this evening.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has taken the opportunity to welcome back long-term injury casualties such as David Wallace, Emmet Byrne and Paul O'Connell into the international set-up while the unavailability of players plying their trade overseas allows fringe players such as Neil Doak a chance to force their way into the reckoning.
The travelling party depart for the La Santa Training Camp on the island of Lanzarote on December 15th, returning a week later on the 22nd.
Ireland sqaud:
Forwards: Shane Byrne (Blackrock College - Leinster), Frank Sheahan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Reggie Corrigan (Greystones - Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Shannon - Munster), Emmet Byrne (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Gary Longwell (Ballymena - Ulster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College - Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Anthony Foley (Shannon - Munster),. Victor Costello (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Keith Gleeson (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster), Eric Miller (Terenure College - Leinster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Leinster), Jeremy Davidson (Dungannon - Ulster), Justin Fitzpatrick (Dungannon - Ulster).
Backs: Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Neil Doak (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Brian O'Meara (Cork Constitution - Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), David Humphreys (Dungannon - Ulster), Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College - Leinster), Rob Henderson (Young Munster - Munster), John Kelly (Cork Constitution - Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster), Denis Hickie (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Shane Horgan (Lansdowne - Leinster), Tyrone Howe (Dungannon - Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster), Jonathan Bell (Dungannon - Ulster), Anthony Horgan (Cork Constitution - Munster).