Four return to under-20 squad

PLANET RUGBY:A 24-MAN Ireland Under-20 squad has been announced ahead of the French match at this age-grade's regular home of Dubarry Park, Athlone.

David Kearney (brother of Rob), Eamonn Sheridan and Ian Madigan are the returning backs from last season’s team, while James Sandford is the only surviving forward. The son of former Welsh coach Mike Ruddock, Ciarán, is also included. A starting XV will be announced on Wednesday.

IRELAND UNDER-20: Backs- A Burke (Garryowen), J Cooney (UCD), G Foley (Blackrock), D Kearney (Lansdowne), M Keating (Clontarf), I Madigan (Blackrock), I McKinley (UCD), C Murray (Garryowen), J O'Brien (Buccaneers), R O'Mahony (Garryowen), E Sheridan (Lansdowne).

Forwards: M Flanagan (UCD), A Macklin (Ulster), M Noone (Seapoint Lansdowne), P O'Mahony (Cork Constitution), P McAllister (Ballynahinch), J McConnell (Lansdowne), D McGregor (Ballynahinch), J McGrath (St. Mary's), D Ryan (Lansdowne), C Ruddock (Neath), R Ruddock (Neath), J Sandford (Queens Univ), T Sexton (Old Belvedere)

Peel reinstated

LESS THAN a fortnight after Dwayne Peel was overlooked for a place in Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s 28-man squad, he is back on the Six Nations beat.

Gloucester scrumhalf Gareth Cooper’s knee injury means 64 times-capped Peel should land a role in Wales’ opener against Scotland at Murrayfield next Sunday. Ospreys star Mike Phillips is firm favourite to make the starting line-up, with Peel providing bench cover.

Saxons ready for Ireland A clash

A DECENT IRELAND A team is expected to take the field against the England Saxons this Friday in Donnybrook (kick-off, 7.35pm, live on RTÉ Two) but the English have one up on Michael Bradley and Niall O’Donovan’s side having played a warm-up match, beating Portugal 66-0 on Friday, where Leicester scrumhalf Harry Ellis impressed on his return from suspension for spear tackling Dan Carter.

The interest factor should be fairly high for Irish punters with the likes of Donnacha Ryan, Ian Humphreys, Shane Jennings and Eoin Reddan particularly unfortunate not to make the squad to face France across town the following day.

O'Sullivan in line for US role

IT LOOKS increasingly likely that Eddie O’Sullivan will return to the head coaching role with the US Eagles after former Welsh attack specialist Scott Johnson vacated the position to become director of rugby at the Ospreys last week.

That said, O’Sullivan’s agent John Baker has received no official contact from the US rugby union but he did confirm the former Irish coach has been to the States on two occasions in recent months for coaching clinics at various universities, including Notre Dame.

“If we were approached by the US Eagles we would have a serious look at everything,” said Baker.

O’Sullivan was unavailable for comment due to Barbarians’ commitments in Wales.

If O’Sullivan were to take up the position it could well turn the trickle of non-contracted Irish players declaring for the Eagles into a flood. Already, St Mary’s flanker Kevin Sheahan has utilised his birthright to declare allegiance to the flag.

Carter could miss rest of season

DAN CARTER won the battle of the world’s two leading outhalves at Stade de France on Saturday but it may have come at some cost. Carter outshone Argentina’s Juan Martin Hernandez but could miss the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury, sports daily LEquipe reported yesterday.

Carter limped off in the closing minutes, having scored eight points and inspired a Perpignan comeback from 13-3 down at half-time to draw 13-13 with Stade Francais.

The head to head between New Zealander Carter and Hernandez in front of 79,122 was not the classic everyone had anticipated.

Van der Linde opts to stay on

THERE WAS some good news for Leinster over the weekend with CJ van der Linde turning down a one-year contract to return to South Africa. The deadline passed on Saturday without any indication from the World Cup winning prop about a possible return.

Former team-mate and current Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus was asked even about the possibility of van der Linde joining his squad ahead of the Super 14.

“We’ve got (other props) Brian, Brock and JC. Where would CJ play?” said Erasmus, prompting a reporter to reply: “In the starting line-up?”

Erasmus: “Maybe for another coach.”