Horgan joining Irish tour party

The undulating season of Anthony Horgan took another upturn yesterday when it was confirmed the winger would be joining the Irish senior squad to tour New Zealand and Australia, in place of injured Munster team-mate John Kelly.

Kelly initially damaged his shoulder against Leinster in the European Cup semi-final on April 23rd and was replaced by Rob Henderson after 14 minutes. He recovered sufficiently to line out in the final on May 20th but, despite joining this week's training camp in Limerick, has failed to regain full fitness.

Horgan started against the All Blacks in the 45-7 defeat last November, when he was singled out for criticism after secondrow Jason Eaton chased him down in a sprint.

Horgan was subsequently dropped from the Munster squad and was reduced to lining out for Cork Constitution in the All-Ireland League.

Injuries to provincial team-mates saw him regain the right wing position for the European Cup semi-final and final but, along with Kelly, his selection here has been facilitated by the inclusion of several young players in the Ireland A squad for the Churchill Cup.

The touring party fly to Singapore tomorrow and on to Auckland airport by Sunday morning. The first Test against New Zealand is on Saturday week at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, the home town of former Ireland coach Warren Gatland, with the second Test in Eden Park on June 17th. The tour concludes against the Wallabies in Perth's Subiaco Oval on June 24th.