THIRTEEN Irish players have been included in the 62 man squad named yesterday by Lions manager Fran Cotton for training in preparation for the tour to South Africa in May.
The Irish contingent includes Simon Geoghegan and hooker Keith Wood. Geoghegan has been out all season after operations to rectify problems with his big toes, while Wood underwent an operation for a dislocated shoulder sustained against France a month ago.
Ten of the Ireland players who lined out against England last Saturday are included, as is out half David Humphreys, who came on as a replacement for Eric Elwood, but Elwood is not named. The other Ireland backs who played against England and are chosen are: full back Jim Staples centre Jonathan Bell and wing Denis Hickie.
The squad includes seven Ireland forwards. In addition to Wood, both Ireland props Nick Popplewell and Richard Wallace, the second row pair Paddy Johns and Jeremy Davidson and the back row trio of David Corkery, Eric Miller and Den is McBride are all included.
The only one of the Irish contingent chosen, in what is, in effect, a preliminary squad, who has toured with the Lions is Popplewell. He was in the touring party that went to New Zealand in 1993 and played in all three tests.
The England captain, Phil de Glanville, is not included, even though 27 England players are chosen. In fact none of the four England three quarters who started the match against Ireland has been named. Centre Will Carling was not available, but at this stage of the selection process, wings Tony Underwood and Jon Sleightholme, who both scored two tries last Saturday, have been left out.
Lions manager Fran Cotton has made it clear, however, that omission at this point does not mean that those not chosen are out of contention.
"There is still some way to go before the 35 man party is finalised," said Cotton, "and those not chosen should not feel they are out of contention".
The party will not be finalised until April 2nd and two series of matches remain to be played in the International Championship.
Only three of the backs in the panel were in the squad that toured New Zealand in 1993. They are: Ieuan Evans; Scott Gibbs and Jeremy Guscott. In addition to Popplewell, four other forwards who were in New Zealand in 1993 are now included. They are all English - Jason Leonard, Martin Bayfield, Martin Johnson and Ben Clarke. Johnson was not an original choice for the tour, but joined as a replacement, while Clarke is not currently in the England team, nor is Bayfield.
Ireland's representative on the Lions selection committee is Donal Lenihan.
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