Ireland Official 6N Squad 2012*

Ireland squad (sponsored by 02) for the matches against Wales (5 February) and France (11 February) in the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Backs: Isaac Boss (Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Gordon Darcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Denis Hurley (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Keatley (Munster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Johne Murphy (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

Forwards: Stephen Archer (Munster), Rory Best (Ulster), Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Croinin (Leinster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster, CAPTAIN), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Damien Varley (Munster)

MUNSTER LEAD THE WAY FOR IRELAND
Thursday, 05 January 2012

Head coach Declan Kidney has selected a familiar team in Ireland's 36-man squad for the opening two matches of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship. Munster lead the way with 17 players selected from last season's Magners League champions. 28 players from last year’s Rugby World Cup squad are included – the exceptions being Paddy Wallace and Geordan Murphy who has now retired – while potential Six Nations debuts could lie ahead for Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony, both of whom have been excelling in the Heineken Cup with Munster.

O'Mahony, a product of PBC, the school where Declan Kidney taught, has captained Ireland U18, Ireland U20, Munster A and the Munster Senior Team. He looks sure to ruffle feathers in a very settled backrow. Murray – who sprung to fame in the Summer Tests and Rugby World Cup – has never played in a Six Nations match. He played his first Heineken Cup match this season winning man of the match against the Llanelli Scarlets.

He told www.irishrugby.ie: “I am looking forward to the Six Nations immensly. My upbringing from my mother means I’ve always known about Ireland and I was still in school when I saw Drisco (Brian O'Driscoll) lift the cup 3 years ago".

Kidney said: “I am pleased to reflect on the winning displays we have seen from both Munster Rugby and Leinster over the last two months and the contribution a number of our uncapped players have made to them.

“I think what’s also encouraging is that a number of players who have forced their way into contention in that period and who have not made the squad this time, are really knocking on the door and that competition for places can only raise our standards, so this Ireland squad can be very much a work in progress over the coming months especially with the Summer looming.

“We said after the Rugby World Cup that the challenge we must confront is to get on with the business of winning international rugby matches. Potential counts for nothing if you don’t deliver results.”

The squad will gather at Carlton House on the week beginning Monday 23 January before it is trimmed for match specific preparations for Ireland's opening game of the championship against Wales at Aviva Stadium on Sunday 5 February.

You can still buy tickets for the 6 Nations 3pm via the IRFU website www.irishrugby.ie
*actually its unofficial and made up

Glas a du wrote:

red_stag wrote:Glas how tall is too tall.

over 6' for a prop.

dublin_dave wrote:hahahaha. nice one red stag top post!!!!

actually glanced over it and was buying it until i saw stephen archer.

Notch wrote:No it wouldn't, really. There are a number of very good props under 6'0. And over 6'0. But 6'4, 6'5 is a difficult height.

dublin_dave wrote:domingo is short

red_stag wrote:

dublin_dave wrote:domingo is short

So are Shane Williams and Peter Stringer.