Rory Best, Simon Best, Matt McCullough and Neil Best as well as Kieran Campbell, David Humphreys, Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble have all been included in Ireland's reduced squad of 24 from which the team to play New Zealand will be selected next week, this marks the largest Ulster representation in the National Squad for some considerable time.

O'Sullivan named a squad of 24 on Wednesday due to injuries to Shane Horgan and Simon Easterby, this will be reduced to 22 when the team to play New Zealand is announced.


Ireland Coach Eddie O’Sullivan said, “We have two main injury concerns at the moment in Shane Horgan and Simon Easterby, so we have named 24 in the squad to allow them as much time as possible to prove their fitness before we name our team next week.  Shane Horgan picked up a shoulder knock playing in the Heineken Cup last weekend, but we are optimistic that he will be fit to play.”


He continued, “Training has gone well over the last week, and the new faces in the squad have fitted in very well. The other players who have been released will come back into the equation for the games against Australia and Romania.”


Ulster have a big show-down against The Ospreys lined up for Ravenhill on Friday night, and with these eight players not available selection, the Celtic League match will provide an excellent opportunity for some of Ulster's younger players to lay down a marker for future selection and for supporters to see them in action. Mark McCall will announce his side tomorrow.

The Ospreys are 8th in the Celtic League table with a game in hand but have struggled to find their excellent form of last season that saw them defeat Ulster 24 - 37 on their last outing to Ravenhill and this Friday night Mark McCall's men will be looking to set the record straight. Kick off is 7.10pm.

Forwards (13)


Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Shane Byrne (Saracens), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Shannon/Munster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Matt McCullough (Ballymena/Ulster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Johnny O’Connor (Wasps), Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster).


Backs (11)


Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Kieran Campbell (Dungannon/Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster), Anthony Horgan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster), David Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster).


Not considered though injury: Guy Easterby (Blackrock College/Leinster), Denis Hickie (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Eric Miller (Terenure College/Leinster), Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster).