O'Connell and Hayes front up

RUGBY: Paul O'Connell and John Hayes shrugged off a shoulder injury and viral infection respectively to take a full part in yesterday's first session ahead of next Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland at Lansdowne Road. Gavin Cummiskey reports

Twenty-nine of the 30-man squad trained at St Gerard's School, Bray. Simon Easterby and Eoin Reddan sat it out as a precaution after sustaining dead legs while playing for Llanelli and Wasps respectively in last weekend's Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-finals.

As it happens, the players will be facing each other in the inaugural final on April 9th.

Despite the presence this week of Kieran Lewis, Robert Kearney, Denis Hickie, Tommy Bowe, Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Anthony Foley and Brian Young, no changes are expected when Eddie O'Sullivan announces his match-day squad at lunchtime today.

Bath lock Danny Grewcock is available for England's vital trip to the Stade de France on Sunday after being censured but not cited for an alleged stamp on Llanelli outhalf Mike Hercus.

But England will be without Leicester hooker George Chuter after he was cited for allegedly stamping on Wasps opposite number Raphael Ibanez during Saturday's Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final.

Wales have made a final attempt to persuade their acting head coach Scott Johnson to remain with the side until next year's World Cup as he dwells on an offer to join Australia's management team.

Australia's coach John Connolly last week met Johnson armed with the offer of a three-year contract to become the Wallabies' backs coach, but Wales have countered by suggesting to Johnson that he take a sabbatical in Australia, spending time with his family for six months before returning in time for the November internationals when preparations for the World Cup in France will start to gather pace.

Meanwhile, Leinster intend to confirm the signing of Munster secondrow Trevor Hogan later this week. The Tipperary native has another year on his current contract but has been unable to build upon a first international cap, gained last summer in Japan, because of the presence of O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll.

Hogan played club rugby with Blackrock College before returning to Munster in 2002.

"We have talked to Trevor Hogan and the deal has been agreed so it is now just a matter of it being cleared by the IRFU as he is still under contract to Munster," said a Leinster source.

Kiwi lock Bryce Williams goes in the other direction, having accepted a significant wage increase to join the French club Bourgoin.

Connacht's trip to Newcastle on March 31st for the European Challenge Cup quarter-final has become even more daunting as they must plan without centre pairing Keith Matthews and John Hearty - after the two suffered injuries in the 16-13 defeat by Leinster on Sunday evening at Donnybrook.

Hearty had his jaw badly broken just before half-time, in an innocuous-looking tackle, and has been ruled out for at least five weeks. Matthews was replaced by David Slemen after just nine minutes.

"John has sustained a fractured jaw but the good news is it doesn't need wiring," said team manager Tim Allnutt. "Keith suffered a torn quad and is gone for at least three weeks so they are both out of the Newcastle match.

"It's a shame because they are both in their first season with us and had both been playing really well. They are two gutsy fellas; they get stuck in - so their loss upsets our midfield a lot.

"We do have Andrew (Mailei, a Tongan international), and Mark McHugh looks to be returning to his old form. Also, James Downey played 20 minutes of club rugby for Clontarf recently."

While not blaming the Donnybrook surface for the injuries, Allnutt described it as "absolutely shocking" and added, "I've played on it many times before but I've never seen it this bad. We heard something like 50 schools games have been played on it. No pitch can stand up to that punishment."

The Irish under-19s, who will be largely composed of schools players as a consequence of the IRFU conforming to IRB age grades this season, will have their two opening world cup matches televised live on Sky Sports.

The tournament takes place in Dubai between April 4th and 21st. Charlie McAleese's side are out against England on April 5th, followed by France on April 9th.

There will also be live coverage of the semi-finals, runners-up final and the overall tournament final.

Ireland's final pool game is against Samoa on April 13th.