RUGBY:RTÉ HAVE unveiled their team for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, a cornucopia of familiar faces and a few who'll be relative novices when it comes to punditry.

Lions, Leinster and Ireland wing Shane Horgan would fit into the latter category, so too perhaps Leinster coach Joe Schmidt while World Cup winner and former England international second row Ben Kay, who currently works on ESPN’s rugby coverage, has already enjoyed a season behind the microphone.

The dulcet tones of former Ireland and Leinster centre – he also acted a defence coach for the province – and New Zealand native Kurt McQuilkin will be heard on co-commentary.

The national broadcaster will provide 130 hours of rugby coverage across television, radio and online.

The station will screen 13 matches live and free-to-air, including all of Ireland’s pool matches, the final, the bronze final, both semi-finals, all four quarter-finals and the opening match.

For the first time coverage of the tournament will be broadcast in HD in Ireland, available on Saorview.

In addition to the live games highlights coverage of every game in the tournament will be shown in primetime (6pm–9pm) on RTÉ Two each match day.

Joining the new faces will be regulars George Hook, Brent Pope, Conor O’Shea, Victor Costello and Frankie Sheahan. Tom McGurk and Daire O’Brien will anchor proceedings, while Hugh Cahill, Ryle Nugent, Donal Lenihan, George Hamilton, Tony Ward, Ralph Keyes and McQuilkin will provide the commentary.

RTÉ Radio commentator Michael Corcoran will provide coverage of all of Ireland’s games as well as regular news updates.