Of some mild embarrassment to the Irish management, Dominic Chapman, the 21-year-old Richmond flyer who has recently caught the admiring eye of Irish coach Brian Ashton, has decided to nail his colours to the English mast. This follows his inclusion in the English squad last week within 24 hours of being asked to attend the Irish squad session in Dublin tomorrow. If that's all it took, then good luck to him.

John McWeeney of St Mary's has been named as Chapman's replacement amongst the list of "those invited to attend". Three Garryowen men have also been added to the squad. Stephen McIvor, cast into the wilderness, also comes out of autumn and winter hibernation as one of the additional invitees.

Gavin Walsh, another fully contracted, if forgotten Garryowen man, has been called into the full squad following the broken thumb sustained by Peter Clohessy in Young Munster'd defeat of Blackrock on Saturday. The injury is likely to sideline the tight-head for three weeks. In light of Jonathan Bell's injury, the Garryowen centre Killian Keane has also been asked along.