Bell out of Ireland team

Jonathan Bell was yesterday withdrawn from the Ireland team to play England after failing a fitness test on a thigh injury sustained while playing for Dungannon last Saturday.

He is replaced at centre by Rob Henderson, who was a highly effective substitute for Bell during the first half of the Ireland-France match, indeed he won the official "man of the match" award.

Henderson's place on the replacements' bench is taken by Killian Keane, who is promoted from the out-half position on the A team. The ripple effect sees Barry Everitt promoted to out-half on the A team, where he played in both of Ireland's A matches to date in this campaign. Ronan O'Gara comes into the replacements.

Keane won his solitary cap as a replacement against England last year when he took over from a concussed Mark McCall for the last 35 minutes of that 35-17 defeat, and was a squad member on the tour of South Africa. The Garryowen man is a familiar figure within the set-up who knows the calls and has a composed temperament.

The IRFU have decided that Galway Corinthians will be the new location for the installation of floodlights and hence the home of a new regional stadium for the Connacht region. This is in keeping with the installation of floodlights and development of the grounds at Ravenhill, Thomond Park and Donnybrook, and sees Corinthian Park chosen ahead of Connacht's traditional home the Sports ground as well as Galwegians's home ground, Crowley Park. Work at Corinthian Park in Cloonacuaneen, Galway, will begin in May.