RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:THE EXTENDED Ireland squad trained at Donnybrook yesterday ahead of Saturday's opening November Test match against Canada at Thomond Park. Only Tommy Bowe and Tomás O'Leary failed to take part as coach Declan Kidney fine tuned his preparations ahead of today's team announcement.
Bowe was given yesterday afternoon off as a result of playing for his club, the Ospreys, in an EDF Cup defeat by London Irish - the Welsh club still qualified for the semi-finals from their pool - on Sunday while Munster scrumhalf O'Leary is still troubled by a foot injury. An IRFU spokesperson confirmed O'Leary's enforced sideline sabbatical was largely precautionary rather than a serious concern at this point.
Several of the Ireland team then swapped their training attire for blazer and greys to attend the Guinness-sponsored Rugby Writers of Ireland annual awards at the Storehouse in Dublin. Munster and Ireland outhalf Ronan O'Gara won the player of the year award for a series of outstanding performances, particularly in the Heineken Cup and he was instrumental in helping his province to a second European crown.
There was a second triumph for Munster on the night when captain Paul O'Connell accepted the Dave Guiney award, which honours the team of the year. The Irish province returned to the scene of their 2006 European Cup triumph over Biarritz, the Millennium Stadium to beat three-time champions, Toulouse 16-13.
It was a poignant occasion with Kidney presiding over Munster for the last time before taking up a new appointment as Ireland coach and the decision to retire by stalwarts like Anthony Foley, John Kelly and Shaun Payne.
Cork Constitution won club of the year following their victory over Garryowen in last season's All-Ireland Division One final. The Cork team bridged a nine-year gap in claiming a third triumph in the history of the tournament.
Roly Meates was honoured with the Tom Rooney award - it's bestowed on a recipient for services to rugby - recognising his contribution at every level in Irish rugby.
Two more recipients were inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame, Mick English and Seán Lynch. English, affectionately known as "Mick the Kick", won 16 Ireland caps from 1958-1963. He toured with the 1959 Lions but injury denied him an opportunity to challenge for a Test spot.
His peers suggest he was unlucky as his career coincided with two of the game's greatest ever players, Jack Kyle and Mike Gibson - English replaced Kyle in 1958 and six seasons later was in turn replaced by Gibson.
It is appropriate that the St Mary's College and Ireland prop be honoured in a year when the Lions will tour South Africa for his greatest achievements were on one of the great Lions expeditions, to New Zealand in 1971.
Selected at the end of his first international season, he was viewed by sections of the British media as a surprise choice but when Scotland's Sandy Carmichael was battered out of contention in a famously violent game in Canterbury, Lynch made the tighthead position his own for the Test series that was won 2-1. Lynch won 17 caps for Ireland, missing just one game in four and a bit seasons. He was on the side that drew 10-10 with the All Blacks in 1973 and also helped Ireland win the Five Nations championship the following season. The awards were jointly presented by Michael Whelan of Guinness and Peter O'Reilly, chairman of the Rugby Writers of Ireland.
Tait and Narraway ruled out of England's opening Test
Mathew Tait and Luke Narraway have been ruled out of England's opening Test against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on Saturday after failing to overcome hamstring injuries.
England manager Martin Johnson is due to announce his team today and Tait's absence opens the door for London Irish fullback Delon Armitage to be given a Test debut.
Narraway was one of England's outstanding players on the summer tour to New Zealand but having been ruled out Nick Easter is set to make his return to the team.
Scotland's scrumhalf problems have eased ahead of their first autumn Test against New Zealand after Rory Lawson took part in a full training session yesterday.
Lawson sustained rib cartilage damage playing for Gloucester nine days ago and missed the warm-weather training camp in Spain last week as a result.
The South African Rugby Union have confirmed the Springbok will move from its current place on the national rugby jersey and be replaced by the King Protea.
However, the current jersey may still be used for the British and Irish Lions tour as orders for the jersey are nine months in advance and any changes would take that long to implement.
