RUGBY: Winger Ian Dowling and hooker Bernard Jackman have both been ruled out of the Ireland A squad due to injury. Both players were named in a match 22 that will take on the England Saxons in Donnybrook this Friday.

Dowling suffered a hamstring tear and Jackman has aggravated an ankle injury. Ulster winger Mark McCrea has been called into the squad to replace Dowling and Jackman’s Leinster colleague John Fogarty will take up the vacant hookers berth.

Munster centre Barry Murphy has also been added to the squad.

The starting line-up will be confirmed tomorrow when Ireland coach Declan Kidney will also announce the Ireland senior team to play France. Kick-off at Donnybrook is 7.30pm.

The senior Ireland squad trained in a bitterly cold Limerick today with no major injuries to report from the session.