THE Ireland management yesterday handed out a very clear warning to members of the national squad that a specific level of fitness is now an obligatory requirement for consideration for the national team.
Three contracted players have been left out of the 37 man panel to travel to the Algarve for winter heat training from December 29th to January 2nd because they are not at the required level of fitness. They are Robert Henderson, Victor Costello and Eddie Halvey. A fourth contracted player, hooker Shane Byrne, was not considered because he has just returned to the game after injury. In contrast to the stricture on the unfit, there are six non contracted players in the panel.
They are Conor O'Shea, the London Irish full back, Kurt McQuilkin, the Lansdowne centre, Lansdowne out half Eric Elwood, Brian Carey, the Blackrock College and Connacht full back cum centre, Lansdowne and Leinster hooker Mark McDermott and Garryowen number eight Ben Cronin. All but McDermott and Carey are internationals. Scrum half Brian O'Meara, an Ireland under 21 international, is a development player attached to the senior squad. He was also Ireland's reserve scrum half against Australia. Two members of the national squad not considered were Simon Geoghegan and Paul Cunningham, both out with, long term injuries.
Byrne only returned to the Blackrock College side last week having recovered from a troublesome injury. On the other three, the Ireland manager Pat Whelan said: "Robert Henderson has not fulfilled the contractual requirements relating to fitness. Victor Costello and Eddie Halvey are not included because they are not at an acceptable level of fitness.
Halvey, in fact was out injured for the better part of two months and is now back playing again. But his fitness application while he was not playing has obviously not been acceptable to the selectors nor is his current fitness level. He now pays the price.
Whelen added: "I have spoken to the players concerned and they know exactly where they stand. There is a specific obligation on the players. Fitness is now an obligatory requirement and all players must reach the necessary levels. There is little point in taking players for winter heat training if they are not in a position to undertake the full programme. The players left out are now being put on a special four week training programme and we will look at the position when they complete that.
"We brought in a fitness expert, Andy Clarke, and put everything in place and provided all the necessary back up facilities. If we are to compete internationally fitness is a prime requirement." Not much room for doubt or misunderstanding in those sentiments and they are worthy of support. This is a professional era and nothing less than a professional approach will be acceptable from players who are being well paid for their labours.
Whelan also made it clear that the players left out of the panel will not be considered for selection on the Ireland team to play Italy at Lansdowne Road on January 4th. The team for that match will be chosen during the stay in the Algarve.
Costello has failed to reproduce his form of last season and cannot win a regular place on the London Irish side. He came on as a replacement on the Ireland side that lost to Western Samoa in November. In fact he had not originally been chosen on the replacements for that match, nor on the Ireland A side that defeated South Africa. But Costello was brought into the replacements when Gabriel Fulcher withdrew and Mick Galwey was promoted to the team against the Samoans. Halvey last played for Ireland in the Peace International against the Barbarians in May but was forced to retire after only a few minutes because of a hand injury. He was injured again during an Ireland training session in Belfast in September.
Henderson won his first international cap against Western Samoa but was dropped for the match against Australia, while Byrne has also been hit by injury and missed much of Leinster's Interprovincial and European Cup campaigns, during which McDermott played so well for the province. McDermott was an Ireland replacement against Western Samoa. O'Shea played on the right wing for Ireland A against South Africa and scored two tries, while McQuilkin, who last played for Ireland against France in Paris last season, has played well for Leinster this term. Carey has been impressive for both Connacht and Blackrock College and Elwood has revealed a very welcome return to form and played very well for Connacht and for Ireland in the A match against South Africa. Cronin, who rejoined Garryowen from Waterpark this season, regained his place on the Munster side and played on the A team that defeated the South Africans.
Four players not originally given contracts prior to the start of the season were put under contract at the weekend of the Ireland Australia match and all are included in the panel. They are Gary Halpin, Eric Miller, Keith Wood and Mark McCall. Jim Staples, who played against Australia and was injured, is not a contracted player and is ruled out after sustaining a fractured jaw last week.
There are eight uncapped players in the squad. They are backs O'Meara, Carey and, Brian Walsh and forwards Paul Flavin, Angus McKeen, McDermott, Malcolm O'Kelly and Eric Millar.
