Quinlan fills last spot on squad for Down Under

Rugby News round-up: Munster forward Alan Quinlan has been confirmed as the final member of the Ireland squad that will tour New Zealand and Australia in June.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan had left one place open in the touring party to allow Quinlan to gain further match practice and after coming through Munster's final Celtic League game against Cardiff at the weekend, he takes his place in the squad.

A further addition to the Ireland training squad in Limerick is Munster winger Anthony Horgan as cover for John Kelly. Kelly is suffering from a shoulder strain and a decision on his fitness will be made at the end of the week.

News from the Ireland A team who will be playing in the Churchill Cup sees Connacht winger Conor McPhillips step into the squad following the withdrawal of Munster winger Ian Dowling due to illness.

Australia have included nine uncapped players in a new-look 33-man squad for the 2006 international season.

New coach John Connolly retained experienced scrumhalf George Gregan as captain but generally opted for youth as the Wallabies begin rebuilding for next year's World Cup after a dismal 2005.

"I've said throughout we would pick the squad on form. There were a few unlucky omissions but we feel that the squad we've selected is the strongest possible one," Connolly said.

"It's a young squad but there's a good mixture of youth and experience."

The nine rookies are Gene Fairbanks, Guy Shepherdson, Sam Norton-Knight, Wycliff Palu, Benn Robinson, Rodney Blake, Josh Valentine, Tai McIsaac and Cameron Shepherd.

Queensland scrumhalf Sam Cordingley was recalled six years after his last test appearance while Matt Giteau, Bill Young, Berrick Barnes and Hugh McMeniman were all unavailable because of injury.

Australia endured their worst form slump in almost four decades in 2005 and have lost eight of their last nine Tests.

Eddie Jones was sacked as head coach and replaced by Connolly, a traditional no-nonsense manager who is under no illusions about the task ahead of him.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: G Gregan (capt), A Ashley-Cooper, A Baxter, R Blake, M Chisholm, S Cordingley, R Elsom, G Fairbanks, S Fava, A Freier, M Gerrard, D Heenan, G Holmes, A Kanaar, S Larkham, C Latham, T McIsaac, S Mortlock, S Norton-Knight, W Palu, J Paul, C Rathbone, B Robinson, M Rogers, N Sharpe, C Shepherd, G Shepherdson, G Smith, S Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri, J Valentine, D Vickerman, P Waugh.