PROP FORWARD Gary Halpin, who has led London Irish for the past two years, will captain what is designated the Ireland Development A squad on the tour to New Zealand and Western Samoa next month. Halpin, who is 31, and has won 11 caps, is one of 16 internationals in the 32 man squad.
It is certainly a squad that embraces experience and youthful talent with a few surprising omissions such as Dominic Crotty, who was capped four times this season and is still only 22.
Nor is there any room for out halves Paul Burke and Eric Elwood, scrum half Niall Hogan, hooker Allan Clarke, number eight Victor Costello or flanker David Corkery. None of these players is in the veteran class and all played for Ireland this season.
"They were all considered," said manager Pat Whelan as announced the squad last night.
Some of those in the veteran class were not included - Nick Popplewell, Mick Galwey, Maurice Field and Denis McBride. Three of the younger school, James Topping, Jan Cunningham and Killian Keane, were unavailable and Simon Geoghegan is injured.
There is recognition for some of this season's Ireland under 21 team. Out half Richard Governey, prop cum hooker Barry McConnell, second row Rory Sheriff and flanker David Wallace are all chosen. Wing Denis Hickie and scrum half Brian O'Meara, two of the senior caps included, were also eligible for the under 21 team this season.
Alan McGrath, the Shannon centre who has not played for Ireland at any level, gets just reward for some excellent performances this season. He is one of four centres included. The others are Ireland A international Mick Lynch, Robert Henderson, who is recalled after being discarded following a poor display against Western Samoa and the young London Irish and former under 21 international Just in Bishop.
Conor O'Shea and Ciaran Clarke are the two full backs chosen, while Hickie, Jonathan Belt, Niall Woods and the former Ireland under 21 wing Marcus Dillon are the wings. David Coleman, the Terenure wing and the leading try scorer in Division One of the AIL, loses out and has reason to be disappointed.
David Humphreys and Governey are the out halves, while O'Meara, Stephen McIvor and Andrew Matchett are the three scrum halves. Nicky Assaf is extremely unfortunate to have been overlooked.
An interesting selection is that of the Wasps prop Darren Molloy. He has played for England Colts, Schools, Students and at under 21 level. He joined Wasps from London Irish. He is qualified through his father who comes from Co Mayo. He has been watched recently by Ireland coach Brian Ashton. Molloy, Halpin, Paul Wallace, Gavin Walsh and McConnell are the props chosen. McConnell can also play at hooker. Ross Nesdale and Ulster hooker Stephen Ritchie are included, but Allan Clarke is not.
Sheriff joins Paddy Johns, Gabriel Fulcher and Malcolm O'Kelly as the second rows, while Eddie Halvey, Anthony Foley, David Wallace, Kieron Dawson David Erskine and Mark Egan are the six back row men named.
Erskine plays for Sale and has played for Ulster and the Exiles, while Dawson has played for Ireland A this season as well as for the under 21 side in the past. Egan, a former Oxford University captain, has played for Ireland at under 25 level. He has recently returned to play for Terenure College after a spell in Japan.
The full caps in the squad are O'Shea, Clarke, Hickie, Bell, Woods, Henderson, Humphreys, McIvor, O'Meara, Halpin, Paul Wallace, Nesdale, Fulcher, Johns, Halvey and Foley. David Wallace is a younger brother of Paul. But the eldest of the three brothers, international wing Richard, fails to win a place.
Halpin opted out of representative rugby after the World Cup, but indicated his availability again this season. However, a bad leg injury kept him out of the game and out of contention for this season's championship.
The fact that players have not been chosen does not mean they are being forgotten. For instance, Dominic Crotty seems to be suffering from a loss of form and confidence. Victor Costello has not improved one iota in the areas where he had problems," said Whelan. "There are some players we would like to have taken, but we were restricted to 32."
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