Kidney adds sprinkling of youth to seasoned group

RUGBY:DECLAN KIDNEY'S first squad as Ireland head coach has a familiar look, comprising as it does players who toured Australia and New Zealand this summer and 11 who played in the Churchill Cup.

Munster's Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls and Leinster's Jonathan Sexton and Cian Healy represent a glimpse of the young talent available to the side.

Munster's Denis Leamy is included despite the fact he will miss part of the season because of shoulder surgery. So, too, Leinster's Gordon D'Arcy, who is recovering from an horrific arm break suffered against Italy in the Six Nations Championship.

The Ulster centre Andrew Trimble and Leinster lock Leo Cullen missed the summer tours through injury but have returned to pre-season training.

The Ireland squad will convene in Cork for four days from Tuesday and continue the players' pre-season fitness and conditioning programmes they are undergoing with their provinces and clubs.

"The camp is an opportunity for the coaching staff to work with the players and set some foundations ahead of what is going to be an important November for us," said Kidney. "We have a new blend of experience in the coaching staff and we felt that this camp would be key to getting the ideas of both the staff and players across ahead of the new season.

"Once we get into September, it really is a short space of time before we will arrive at our first camp ahead of the November games (Ireland play New Zealand, Canada and Argentina), so it will be important to our preparation.

"It's an exciting time, and the coaching staff and I are looking forward to getting down to business and working with what is a talented squad."

Meanwhile, Munster have announced the signing of the Blues number eight Nick Williams. The Auckland-based player will join in November, subject to the usual medical clearance and his obtaining a work permit.

Munster had been scouring world rugby for a backrow, particularly in the light of Leamy's surgery and the retirement of Anthony Foley.

The 24-year-old Samoan-born Williams played in a dozen of the Blues' Super 14 games this season, scoring tries against The Lions in Ellis Park and the Crusaders in Christchurch. A junior All Black in 2006, he was regularly overlooked by the national selectors despite being singled out as a player of promise.