Ireland call-up for McHugh

Mark McHugh, the 24-year-old Connacht full back, has been drafted into the 26-man Ireland squad for next Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Russia in Krasnoyarsk after the Ulster outhalf-cum-full back Paddy Wallace sustained a broken ankle in Ulster's 38-10 defeat at Swansea on Saturday.

The unfortunate Wallace had been originally left on the Ulster bench after his call-up to the Irish squad, but replaced David Humphreys during Saturday's Celtic League defeat at St Helen's when the latter suffered an eye wound. Wallace is expected to be sidelined for three months.

Humphreys has been passed fit for the trip to Siberia but McHugh's versatility - he has played most of his rugby at outhalf as well as occasional appearances in the centre - was no doubt a factor in his call-up ahead of the likes of Gordon D'Arcy.

Undoubtedly so too was McHugh's performance directly opposite D'Arcy in Connacht's stunning victory over his former province, Leinster, at Donnybrook on Friday night when he scored a second match-winning drop-goal in three matches.

It is also fair recognition for a buoyant Connacht side who have won three Celtic League games out of three. McHugh has represented Ireland at Youths, Universities, under-21s and Students' level and though he is unlikely to make the match-day squad of 22 this call-up is a reward for his bright start to the season.

The starting XV and replacements will be announced after training in Greystones tomorrow morning and the squad will depart for Siberia on Thursday.