EIGHT members of the Irish rugby squad were unable to take part in the training session at Lansdowne Road yesterday afternoon, with the warm up being as much as some could manage because of injuries.
David Humphreys (ankle), Paul Flavin (rib), Paul Burke (shin splints), Brian Walsh (hamstring), Allen Clarke (bruised medial ligament), Nick Popplewell (hamstring), Eddie Halvey (hamstring), and Denis Hickie (dead leg) are all under treatment. Hickie is one of the development players attached to the squad.
Humphreys, who sustained an ankle injury playing against Munster a week ago, aggravated the injury playing for London Irish last Saturday and could be out of action for two weeks.
The Irish players who are with English clubs are not currently involved in the dispute between the English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC) and the English Rugby Union (RFU).
The England squad players with the EPRUC clubs have refused to sign international contracts on advice from EPRUC, but the Ireland squad players have all signed contracts with the IRFU and say they have not been put under pressure by their clubs.
Meanwhile, the composition of the sides for the opening series of Interprovincial Championship matches next Saturday reflects the number of top Irish players unavailable because they play in England.
While Leinster have deferred announcing their side to meet Ulster until tomorrow because of injuries - they have nine players under treatment the other provinces have included players new to the interprovincials.
Munster include four new caps in their side to meet Connacht. The match has been transferred from Musgrave Park, which is undergoing renovation, to the Cork Constitution ground at Temple Hill. There are six new caps on the Connacht team, but some of those have seen service in the series with other provinces.
Meanwhile, Ulster had to amend their selected side even before it was announced. They had chosen New Zealander Stephen Cleave at full back, but an injury sustained in training means that Cleave, who plays with Leinster junior club Drogheda had to withdraw. The fullback berth will now be filled by Stanley McDowell.
Ulster include three new caps, scrum half Stephen Bell, prop Clement Boyd and second row Charlie Simpson. The out half berth is filled by Scotland A international Stuart Laing. He played with the province a few years ago, before, deciding to seek a representative future, with Scotland but has now returned to the Ulsterfold.
Munster bring in four players new to the interprovincial series. They are Mick Lynch in the centre, Killian Keane at out half, Ian Murray at loose head prop and Noel Healy at tight head prop. Healy is a 37 year old veteran, but played well for the provinces in warm up matches and had very, good league and cup campaigns with Shannon last season.
Sean McCahill has been chosen on the left wing, having previously played for the province at full back and centre. The Munster replacement panel includes an international trio of front row forwards John Fitzgerald, Terry Kingston and Paul McCarthy.
Connacht include six new caps, for the province. They are centres Alan Reddan and Nicky Barry, wing Dermot Finnegan, scrumhalf Conor McGuinness, tight ahead prop Ray Ward and second row Mick O'Neill. Reddan has previously played for Munster, Barry for both Munster and Leinster and Finnegan, Ward and O'Neill for Leinster.
