Murphy a sight for sore eyes on return

Rugby/Ireland squad: One of the most closely monitored broken-leg victims in recent Irish rugby history is officially fit and back in the Ireland picture. Leicester's Geordan Murphy was yesterday included in the squad of 31 players who will take part in a mini-training camp in Dublin this week.

The squad comprises the 22 players on duty against England last Saturday in Twickenham and nine others. The reduced squad of 22 for the Six Nations Championship game against Italy at Lansdowne Road on March 20th will be named later this week, while the team for what will be Ireland's second last game of the championship will be announced next Tuesday, after training at Naas rugby club.

The player had targeted inclusion in O'Sullivan's plans for the final two matches of this year's championship since he took his first steps towards playing rugby again earlier this year, following months of recuperation.

He incurred the severe injury against Scotland last September but has already started in one of Leicester's matches and last Wednesday played on the right wing for the club against the Barbarians. As well as being fully involved in the game throughout, Murphy also scored one of his side's 11 tries.

While his match fitness is unlikely to be good enough yet for international rugby, Leicester are expecting him to be available to them at the weekend for their friendly match against Northampton Saints.

"He has already started a game for us and he also played against the Barbarians at Welford Road last week and we expect him to be available for selection for Saturday's match," said a Leicester spokesman.

Other positive news for Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is that both regular-choice full back Girvan Dempsey and second row Donncha O'Callaghan, are named in the squad. O'Callaghan was given his first start for Ireland against Wales but was forced from the pitch with knee ligament damage. His inclusion means he could be back on the bench for the Italian match, as the player he originally replaced before injury, Malcolm O'Kelly, took his international performances to new heights against England three days ago.

Dempsey was injured scoring Ireland's only try at Twickenham, when the covering England winger Ben Cohen slid across the pitch into the Irish fullback and caught him above the knee with his studs. Dempsey departed from the game as Kevin Maggs came into the centre and Gordon D'Arcy moved to full back. In the end, Dempsey had only suffered bruising.

At provincial level, Aidan McCullen will miss Leinster's next game, with Connacht on Saturday, but could return for the next home game, against the Scottish Borders in Donnybrook on March 26th.

McCullen suffered concussion after being punched by Cardiff replacement Rob Appleyard on Friday night in Donnybrook and has the mandatory three-week lay-off.

The report from the game will automatically go to the Celtic League committee, who should make a decision on a course of action over the next few days.

The likelihood now is Ireland number eight Victor Costello will be available to Leinster coach Gary Ella as Ireland have no Six Nations match at the weekend. Costello and other replacements (Frankie Sheehan, David Humphreys, Simon Best, Gary Longwell and Guy Easterby) who did not play against England, will also probably be available to their provinces or clubs.

IRELAND SQUAD: Forwards - S Best (Ulster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Connacht), G Longwell (Ulster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), F Sheahan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster). Backs - G D'Arcy (Leinster), N Doak (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Rotherham), S Horgan (Leinster), T Howe (Ulster), D Humphreys (Ulster), J Kelly (Munster), K Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), D Yapp (Connacht). Not considered due to injury: G Duffy (Harlequins), D Hickie (Leinster), R Henderson (Munster), A Horgan (Munster), E Miller (Leinster), M Mullins (Munster), A Quinlan (Munster), D Quinlan (Leinster).