IRELAND SIX NATIONS SQUAD
Name: Neil Best
Club: Ulster
Position: Back Row
DoB: 03.04.1979
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 16st 7 lbs
Caps: 18
Points: 10
After making his debut for in the 2005/6 series against the All Blacks, Ulster's tough-tackling Best - unrelated to hooker Rory - has been a constant in the Irish set-up. Best made his Six Nations debut against Scotland last year.
Name: Rory Best
Club: Ulster
DoB: 08.15.1982
Position: Hooker
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 16st 9 lbs
Caps: 17
Points: 15
Rory Best, a constantly impressive performer for Ulster at hooker, made his Ireland debut against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road in November 2005. Stocky and mobile, Best played in all of Ireland's Six Nations games in 2007, and scored against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Name: Tommy Bowe
Club: Ulster
DoB: 02.22.1984
Position: Wing
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 15st 1lb
Caps: 10
Points: 15
Ulster pace man Bowe burst onto the international scene by scoring on his debut against USA in November 2004. Bowe, a former Gaelic footballer, made history by becoming the first player from the Farney county to represent his country in 80 years.
Name: Tony Buckley
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.10.1980
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 21st 1lb
Caps: 2
Points: 0
Tighthead prop, Buckley is one for the future. An understudy to Munster and Irish legend John Hayes, the former Newbridge lock has represented Ireland twice. Buckley was named in Ireland's training squad in 2007 and made his debut on the summer tour to Argentina.
Name: Leo Cullen
Club: Leinster
DoB: 01.09.1978
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 18st 1lb
Caps: 19
Points: 0
Leinster lock Cullen has come up through the ranks of Ireland, having represented his country at schools level, under-19, under-21, under-25 and the 'A' team. Cullen was first called up to the full national side on the 2002 trip to New Zealand, and made his debut as Malcolm O'Kelly's replacement in the Auckland Test.
Name: Gordon D'Arcy
Club: Leinster
DoB: 02.10.1980
Position: Centre
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 13 st 12 lbs
Caps: 36
Points: 20
Along with Brian O'Driscoll, D'Arcy forms half of one of the most potent centre pairings in Irish rugby history. The Leinster inside centre began as a fullback, and his physicality and direct running caught the eye of former Ireland coach Warren Gatland while he was still a schoolboy in the late 1990s.
Name: Girvan Dempsey
Club: Leinster
DoB: 02.10.1975
Position: Fullback
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14 st 7 lbs
Caps: 78
Points: 90
Fullback Dempsey has been part of the Irish setup since he made his international bow in 1996. Though in recent years he has jostled for the No15 shirt with Leicester's Geordan Murphy and scored Ireland's winning try against England in the 2004 Six Nations match, at Twickenham.
Name: Gavin Duffy
Club: Connacht
DoB: 18.09.1981
Position: Fullback
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14st 4lbs
Caps: 9
Points: 18
After coming through the Irish schoolboy ranks, Duffy, who moved from London Harlequins to Connacht last summer, is currently behind Geordan Murphy and Girvan Dempsey in the pecking order for the Irish fullback shirt. Duffy's versatility might come in handy for Eddie O'Sullivan, however - he has featured at centre and wing as well as No15 so far in his international career.
Caps 28 - Points 10
Name: Simon Easterby
Club: Llanelli Scarlets
DoB: 27.01.1975
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16st 9lbs
Caps: 62
Points: 40
Llanelli Scarlets skipper Easterby made his international debut against Scotland in the 2000 tournament and has been a mainstay in the back row ever since - he has played every Six Nations game since 2004. Easterby had a poor start to the World Cup in France and with the Scarlets faring badly in Europe, he will want to make amends.
Name: Luke Fitzgerald
Club: Leinster
DoB: 13.09.1987
Position: Centre / Wing
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 14st 6lbs
Caps: 2
Points: 0
When Fitzgerald made his international debut against the Pacific Islanders in 2006 he was, at 19-years-old, the youngest player to represent Ireland since 1977. Fitzgerald comes from good rugby stock - his father was an international prop - and he was named the 2005 [Irish Examiner's] Young Rugby Player of the Year.
Name: Jerry Flannery
Club: Munster
DoB: 17.10.1979
Position: Hooker
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 16st
Caps: 21
Points: 15
Dynamic hooker Flannery is likely to play second fiddle to the more physical Rory Best. In the Six Nations two years ago Flannery was Ireland's man of the tournament. However, he suffered a shoulder injury and missed the other internationals in 2006, allowing Best to cement his place in Eddie O'Sullivan's starting XV.
Name: John Hayes
Club: Munster
DoB: 02.11.1973
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 19st 9lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 10
Like Simon Easterby, tall prop Hayes made his international debut against Scotland in the Six Nations in 2000. And - again like Easterby - he has amassed a colossal amount of caps and is a main stay of the Irish pack. Amazingly 'The Bull' only started playing rugby at the age of 18, and began as a flanker. He has significantly beaten Phil Orr's record as Ireland's most capped prop (58 caps).
Name: Cian Healy
Club: Leinster
DoB: 07.10.1987
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 17 st 4 lbs
Caps: 0
Points: 0
The 20-year-old Leinster prop is yet to make his international debut, but Healy has been called up by Eddie O'Sullivan so he can gain some valuable experience. The Irish Head Coach will have been impressed with his rampaging runs and enthusiasm in this, his first professional season. Earmark Healy as one to watch.
Name: Jamie Heaslip
Club: Leinster
DoB: 15.12.1983
Position: No8
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16 st 7 lbs
Caps: 3
Points: 0
Heaslip is another player who is expected to feature in Irish plans over the next decade. In the highly-competitive back row area the Leinster No8 was unlucky to miss out on the World Cup trip to France. When he made his debut against the Pacific Islanders in 2006, he became the 1,000th player to represent Ireland.
Name: Marcus Horan
Club: Munster
DoB: 07.09.1977
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 16st 7lbs
Caps: 51
Points: 25
Horan has been Ireland's first choice loosehead prop since 2005. After missing out to Reggie Corrigan at the 2003 World Cup, Horan will have been disappointed to have endured a hard and quiet tournament in France last year. In good form for Munster, he will want to prove his worth this Six Nations.
Name: Shane Horgan
Club: Leinster
DoB: 18.07.1978
Position: Wing/Centre
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 16st 5lbs
Caps: 58
Points: 100
Tall and powerful winger Horgan is a Six Nations veteran - this will be his ninth championship. The Leinster flyer is renowned for his depth of running, angles and direct lines. Hogan currently boasts 100 points for Ireland and is certain to increase that this spring.
Name: Bernard Jackman
Club: Leinster
DoB: 05.05.1976
Position: Hooker
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 17st 13lbs
Caps: 4
Points: 0
At 31, hooker Jackman's best days might be behind him. The Leinster player made his Ireland debut in 2005 and has been drafted in for his experience. A proficient lineout technician, Jackman has been coaching in recent seasons too, and will be a useful point of contact for the younger forwards in the squad.
Name: Robert Kearney
Club: Leinster
DoB: 26.03.1983
Position: Wing
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 14 st 13 lbs
Caps: 1
Points: 0
Leinster speedster Kearney has only represented Ireland once - in last year's tour to Argentina. After impressing in the Heineken Cup this season Kearney is expected to add to his solitary cap this championship.
Name: Denis Leamy
Club: Munster
DoB: 27.11.1981
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 17st
Caps: 27
Points: 5
Leamy was carrying an injury throughout the World Cup, but played on regardless. The powerful Munster back rower has recovered now and should play in important part in Ireland's Six Nations this year. It will be the 26-year-old's fourth championship, and he was an ever-present in the previous two campaigns.
Name: Geordan Murphy
Club: Leicester
DoB: 19.04.1978
Position: Full back
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 13st 7lbs
Caps: 53
Points: 98
Murphy is one of the most talented backs to have pulled on an Ireland jersey. The Leicester fullback enjoys healthy competition for the No15 shirt with Girvan Dempsey. Two years ago Murphy played all five Six Nations games, but only started one last term.
Name: Donncha O'Callaghan
Club: Munster
DoB: 23.03.1979
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 17st 4lbs
Caps: 40
Points: 5
With Paul O'Connell out injured fellow lock O'Callaghan needs to have a great Six Nations if Ireland are to have any chance of having a good tournament. The Munster lineout expert has represented his country from schoolboy level and all stages in between. His only try for Ireland came against France in last year's tournament.
Name: Jonny O'Connor
Club: Connacht
DoB: 09.02.1980
Position: Back Row
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 15st 10lbs
Caps: 12
Points: 5
O'Connor, renowned for his scavenging in the loose that largely goes unnoticed and unrewarded, moved from London Wasps to Connacht last season. With more first team opportunities the flanker could feature more for Ireland than last season when he came off the bench only twice in the Six Nations.
Name: Brian O'Driscoll
Club: Leinster
DoB: 21.01.1979
Position: Centre
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 14st 13lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 167
Ireland's captain O'Driscoll is viewed by many as the best centre in the world, however he will need a convincing Six Nations to rebuild his bruised reputation after his country's woeful World Cup. The Leinster back has led out Ireland 46 times, and his link up play with inside centre Gordon D'Arcy will determine how Eddie O'Sullivan's team will do this year.
Name: Mick O'Driscoll
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.10.1978
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 17st
Caps: 11
Points: 0
O'Driscoll made his Test debut against Romania in June 2001, and earned a second cap in November 2002 versus Fiji. The Munster lock, who moved from USAP last summer, then did not feature for Ireland until the 2005/6 autumn internationals. O'Driscoll has been afforded a chance to shine at club level with Paul O'Connell's hand injury. The same should happen at international level too.
Name: Ronan O'Gara
Club: Munster
DoB: 07.03.1977
Position: Fly Half
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 13st 1lb
Caps: 77
Points: 779
Top scorer in the last three Six Nations, fly half and kicker Ronan O'Gara scored four tries in the last competition. But he will want to bounce back after a poor World Cup showing. Ireland's record points scorer was born in San Diego, America, and initially battled for the No10 shirt with David Humphreys.
Name: Malcolm O'Kelly
Club: Leinster
DoB: 19.07.1974
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 8"
Weight: 18st 10lbs
Caps: 91
Points: 40
Giant O'Kelly, Ireland's most-capped player, made his international bow over a decade ago - in November 1997 against the All Blacks. An excellent lineout technician, O'Kelly has been hit with injuries in recent seasons.
Name: Alan Quinlan
Club: Munster
DoB: 13.07.1974
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16st 7lbs
Caps: 25
Points: 25
Before he played in the internationals last year, against Scotland and Argentina, back rower Quinlan had not appeared for Ireland for over two years thanks to cruciate ligament damage. The competitive Munster man made his international debut in the 1999 World Cup.
Name: Eoin Reddan
Club: Wasps
DoB: 20.11.1980
Position: Scrum Half
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 12st 8lbs
Caps: 5
Points: 0
Reddan made his Irish debut in the Six Nations two years ago, as a substitute against France. Wasps' lively No9 has been in good club form, but rarely gets a game behind Peter Stringer. Redden only made his first start for Ireland on last year's summer tour.
**NB: SEXTON HAS A FRACTURED THUMB AND LIKELY TO MISS THE TOURNAMENT**
Name: Jonny Sexton
Club: Leinster
DoB: 11.07.1985
Position: Fly Half
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14st 6lbs
Caps: 0
Points: 0
Leinster's fly half Sexton is yet to play for his country, but he only made his club debut two years ago after being capped at U-21 and Ireland A level. Domestically Sexton contests for the No10 shirt with Argentinean star Felipe Contepomi, with some success.
Name: Peter Stringer
Club: Munster
DoB: 13.12.1977
Position: Scrum Half
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 11st 4lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 30
Scrum half Stringer has been part of the Irish furniture since making his debut in February 2000 against Scotland. Ireland's most capped scrum half and scorer of a try in Munster's 2006 Heineken Cup successful final, Stringer is preferred at No9 to Eoin Reddan due to his well established partnership with No10 Ronan O'Gara.
Name: Andrew Trimble
Club: Ulster
DoB: 20.10.1984
Position: Wing / centre
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 15st 6lbs
Caps: 19
Points: 40
Trimble is young and powerful at centre, or more likely winger for Ireland. The nimble Ulster centre should see more action for his country thanks to the retirement of left-winger Denis Hickie, who bowed out after the World Cup.
Name: David Wallace
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.07.1976
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 16st 3lbs
Caps: 41
Points: 35
Recalled to the national setup in 2006, Wallace was first capped for Ireland in 2000 against Argentina. A British Lion in 2001, Wallace then lost form and favour. Munster's 2006 Heineken Cup run threw him back in the spot light, and the pacy No7 should, barring injury, start as flanker in this Six Nations.
Name: Paddy Wallace
Club: Ulster
DoB: 27.08.1979
Position: Utility back
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 12 st 10 lbs
Caps: 9
Points: 43
Wallace is regarded as Ronan O'Gara's understudy at No10, and has been in Irish squads since 2002. The Ulster player is equally as comfortable at inside centre or fullback. Along with Brian O'Driscoll and Donncha O'Callaghan, he was a member of the Irish team that won the Under-19 FIRA/World Youth Championship in France in 1998.
Name: Neil Best
Club: Ulster
Position: Back Row
DoB: 03.04.1979
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 16st 7 lbs
Caps: 18
Points: 10
After making his debut for in the 2005/6 series against the All Blacks, Ulster's tough-tackling Best - unrelated to hooker Rory - has been a constant in the Irish set-up. Best made his Six Nations debut against Scotland last year.
Name: Rory Best
Club: Ulster
DoB: 08.15.1982
Position: Hooker
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 16st 9 lbs
Caps: 17
Points: 15
Rory Best, a constantly impressive performer for Ulster at hooker, made his Ireland debut against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road in November 2005. Stocky and mobile, Best played in all of Ireland's Six Nations games in 2007, and scored against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Name: Tommy Bowe
Club: Ulster
DoB: 02.22.1984
Position: Wing
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 15st 1lb
Caps: 10
Points: 15
Ulster pace man Bowe burst onto the international scene by scoring on his debut against USA in November 2004. Bowe, a former Gaelic footballer, made history by becoming the first player from the Farney county to represent his country in 80 years.
Name: Tony Buckley
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.10.1980
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 21st 1lb
Caps: 2
Points: 0
Tighthead prop, Buckley is one for the future. An understudy to Munster and Irish legend John Hayes, the former Newbridge lock has represented Ireland twice. Buckley was named in Ireland's training squad in 2007 and made his debut on the summer tour to Argentina.
Name: Leo Cullen
Club: Leinster
DoB: 01.09.1978
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 18st 1lb
Caps: 19
Points: 0
Leinster lock Cullen has come up through the ranks of Ireland, having represented his country at schools level, under-19, under-21, under-25 and the 'A' team. Cullen was first called up to the full national side on the 2002 trip to New Zealand, and made his debut as Malcolm O'Kelly's replacement in the Auckland Test.
Name: Gordon D'Arcy
Club: Leinster
DoB: 02.10.1980
Position: Centre
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 13 st 12 lbs
Caps: 36
Points: 20
Along with Brian O'Driscoll, D'Arcy forms half of one of the most potent centre pairings in Irish rugby history. The Leinster inside centre began as a fullback, and his physicality and direct running caught the eye of former Ireland coach Warren Gatland while he was still a schoolboy in the late 1990s.
Name: Girvan Dempsey
Club: Leinster
DoB: 02.10.1975
Position: Fullback
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14 st 7 lbs
Caps: 78
Points: 90
Fullback Dempsey has been part of the Irish setup since he made his international bow in 1996. Though in recent years he has jostled for the No15 shirt with Leicester's Geordan Murphy and scored Ireland's winning try against England in the 2004 Six Nations match, at Twickenham.
Name: Gavin Duffy
Club: Connacht
DoB: 18.09.1981
Position: Fullback
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14st 4lbs
Caps: 9
Points: 18
After coming through the Irish schoolboy ranks, Duffy, who moved from London Harlequins to Connacht last summer, is currently behind Geordan Murphy and Girvan Dempsey in the pecking order for the Irish fullback shirt. Duffy's versatility might come in handy for Eddie O'Sullivan, however - he has featured at centre and wing as well as No15 so far in his international career.
Caps 28 - Points 10
Name: Simon Easterby
Club: Llanelli Scarlets
DoB: 27.01.1975
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16st 9lbs
Caps: 62
Points: 40
Llanelli Scarlets skipper Easterby made his international debut against Scotland in the 2000 tournament and has been a mainstay in the back row ever since - he has played every Six Nations game since 2004. Easterby had a poor start to the World Cup in France and with the Scarlets faring badly in Europe, he will want to make amends.
Name: Luke Fitzgerald
Club: Leinster
DoB: 13.09.1987
Position: Centre / Wing
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 14st 6lbs
Caps: 2
Points: 0
When Fitzgerald made his international debut against the Pacific Islanders in 2006 he was, at 19-years-old, the youngest player to represent Ireland since 1977. Fitzgerald comes from good rugby stock - his father was an international prop - and he was named the 2005 [Irish Examiner's] Young Rugby Player of the Year.
Name: Jerry Flannery
Club: Munster
DoB: 17.10.1979
Position: Hooker
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 16st
Caps: 21
Points: 15
Dynamic hooker Flannery is likely to play second fiddle to the more physical Rory Best. In the Six Nations two years ago Flannery was Ireland's man of the tournament. However, he suffered a shoulder injury and missed the other internationals in 2006, allowing Best to cement his place in Eddie O'Sullivan's starting XV.
Name: John Hayes
Club: Munster
DoB: 02.11.1973
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 19st 9lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 10
Like Simon Easterby, tall prop Hayes made his international debut against Scotland in the Six Nations in 2000. And - again like Easterby - he has amassed a colossal amount of caps and is a main stay of the Irish pack. Amazingly 'The Bull' only started playing rugby at the age of 18, and began as a flanker. He has significantly beaten Phil Orr's record as Ireland's most capped prop (58 caps).
Name: Cian Healy
Club: Leinster
DoB: 07.10.1987
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 17 st 4 lbs
Caps: 0
Points: 0
The 20-year-old Leinster prop is yet to make his international debut, but Healy has been called up by Eddie O'Sullivan so he can gain some valuable experience. The Irish Head Coach will have been impressed with his rampaging runs and enthusiasm in this, his first professional season. Earmark Healy as one to watch.
Name: Jamie Heaslip
Club: Leinster
DoB: 15.12.1983
Position: No8
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16 st 7 lbs
Caps: 3
Points: 0
Heaslip is another player who is expected to feature in Irish plans over the next decade. In the highly-competitive back row area the Leinster No8 was unlucky to miss out on the World Cup trip to France. When he made his debut against the Pacific Islanders in 2006, he became the 1,000th player to represent Ireland.
Name: Marcus Horan
Club: Munster
DoB: 07.09.1977
Position: Prop
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 16st 7lbs
Caps: 51
Points: 25
Horan has been Ireland's first choice loosehead prop since 2005. After missing out to Reggie Corrigan at the 2003 World Cup, Horan will have been disappointed to have endured a hard and quiet tournament in France last year. In good form for Munster, he will want to prove his worth this Six Nations.
Name: Shane Horgan
Club: Leinster
DoB: 18.07.1978
Position: Wing/Centre
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 16st 5lbs
Caps: 58
Points: 100
Tall and powerful winger Horgan is a Six Nations veteran - this will be his ninth championship. The Leinster flyer is renowned for his depth of running, angles and direct lines. Hogan currently boasts 100 points for Ireland and is certain to increase that this spring.
Name: Bernard Jackman
Club: Leinster
DoB: 05.05.1976
Position: Hooker
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 17st 13lbs
Caps: 4
Points: 0
At 31, hooker Jackman's best days might be behind him. The Leinster player made his Ireland debut in 2005 and has been drafted in for his experience. A proficient lineout technician, Jackman has been coaching in recent seasons too, and will be a useful point of contact for the younger forwards in the squad.
Name: Robert Kearney
Club: Leinster
DoB: 26.03.1983
Position: Wing
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 14 st 13 lbs
Caps: 1
Points: 0
Leinster speedster Kearney has only represented Ireland once - in last year's tour to Argentina. After impressing in the Heineken Cup this season Kearney is expected to add to his solitary cap this championship.
Name: Denis Leamy
Club: Munster
DoB: 27.11.1981
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 17st
Caps: 27
Points: 5
Leamy was carrying an injury throughout the World Cup, but played on regardless. The powerful Munster back rower has recovered now and should play in important part in Ireland's Six Nations this year. It will be the 26-year-old's fourth championship, and he was an ever-present in the previous two campaigns.
Name: Geordan Murphy
Club: Leicester
DoB: 19.04.1978
Position: Full back
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 13st 7lbs
Caps: 53
Points: 98
Murphy is one of the most talented backs to have pulled on an Ireland jersey. The Leicester fullback enjoys healthy competition for the No15 shirt with Girvan Dempsey. Two years ago Murphy played all five Six Nations games, but only started one last term.
Name: Donncha O'Callaghan
Club: Munster
DoB: 23.03.1979
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 17st 4lbs
Caps: 40
Points: 5
With Paul O'Connell out injured fellow lock O'Callaghan needs to have a great Six Nations if Ireland are to have any chance of having a good tournament. The Munster lineout expert has represented his country from schoolboy level and all stages in between. His only try for Ireland came against France in last year's tournament.
Name: Jonny O'Connor
Club: Connacht
DoB: 09.02.1980
Position: Back Row
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 15st 10lbs
Caps: 12
Points: 5
O'Connor, renowned for his scavenging in the loose that largely goes unnoticed and unrewarded, moved from London Wasps to Connacht last season. With more first team opportunities the flanker could feature more for Ireland than last season when he came off the bench only twice in the Six Nations.
Name: Brian O'Driscoll
Club: Leinster
DoB: 21.01.1979
Position: Centre
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 14st 13lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 167
Ireland's captain O'Driscoll is viewed by many as the best centre in the world, however he will need a convincing Six Nations to rebuild his bruised reputation after his country's woeful World Cup. The Leinster back has led out Ireland 46 times, and his link up play with inside centre Gordon D'Arcy will determine how Eddie O'Sullivan's team will do this year.
Name: Mick O'Driscoll
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.10.1978
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 17st
Caps: 11
Points: 0
O'Driscoll made his Test debut against Romania in June 2001, and earned a second cap in November 2002 versus Fiji. The Munster lock, who moved from USAP last summer, then did not feature for Ireland until the 2005/6 autumn internationals. O'Driscoll has been afforded a chance to shine at club level with Paul O'Connell's hand injury. The same should happen at international level too.
Name: Ronan O'Gara
Club: Munster
DoB: 07.03.1977
Position: Fly Half
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 13st 1lb
Caps: 77
Points: 779
Top scorer in the last three Six Nations, fly half and kicker Ronan O'Gara scored four tries in the last competition. But he will want to bounce back after a poor World Cup showing. Ireland's record points scorer was born in San Diego, America, and initially battled for the No10 shirt with David Humphreys.
Name: Malcolm O'Kelly
Club: Leinster
DoB: 19.07.1974
Position: Lock
Height: 6' 8"
Weight: 18st 10lbs
Caps: 91
Points: 40
Giant O'Kelly, Ireland's most-capped player, made his international bow over a decade ago - in November 1997 against the All Blacks. An excellent lineout technician, O'Kelly has been hit with injuries in recent seasons.
Name: Alan Quinlan
Club: Munster
DoB: 13.07.1974
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 16st 7lbs
Caps: 25
Points: 25
Before he played in the internationals last year, against Scotland and Argentina, back rower Quinlan had not appeared for Ireland for over two years thanks to cruciate ligament damage. The competitive Munster man made his international debut in the 1999 World Cup.
Name: Eoin Reddan
Club: Wasps
DoB: 20.11.1980
Position: Scrum Half
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 12st 8lbs
Caps: 5
Points: 0
Reddan made his Irish debut in the Six Nations two years ago, as a substitute against France. Wasps' lively No9 has been in good club form, but rarely gets a game behind Peter Stringer. Redden only made his first start for Ireland on last year's summer tour.
**NB: SEXTON HAS A FRACTURED THUMB AND LIKELY TO MISS THE TOURNAMENT**
Name: Jonny Sexton
Club: Leinster
DoB: 11.07.1985
Position: Fly Half
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 14st 6lbs
Caps: 0
Points: 0
Leinster's fly half Sexton is yet to play for his country, but he only made his club debut two years ago after being capped at U-21 and Ireland A level. Domestically Sexton contests for the No10 shirt with Argentinean star Felipe Contepomi, with some success.
Name: Peter Stringer
Club: Munster
DoB: 13.12.1977
Position: Scrum Half
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 11st 4lbs
Caps: 79
Points: 30
Scrum half Stringer has been part of the Irish furniture since making his debut in February 2000 against Scotland. Ireland's most capped scrum half and scorer of a try in Munster's 2006 Heineken Cup successful final, Stringer is preferred at No9 to Eoin Reddan due to his well established partnership with No10 Ronan O'Gara.
Name: Andrew Trimble
Club: Ulster
DoB: 20.10.1984
Position: Wing / centre
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 15st 6lbs
Caps: 19
Points: 40
Trimble is young and powerful at centre, or more likely winger for Ireland. The nimble Ulster centre should see more action for his country thanks to the retirement of left-winger Denis Hickie, who bowed out after the World Cup.
Name: David Wallace
Club: Munster
DoB: 08.07.1976
Position: Back Row
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 16st 3lbs
Caps: 41
Points: 35
Recalled to the national setup in 2006, Wallace was first capped for Ireland in 2000 against Argentina. A British Lion in 2001, Wallace then lost form and favour. Munster's 2006 Heineken Cup run threw him back in the spot light, and the pacy No7 should, barring injury, start as flanker in this Six Nations.
Name: Paddy Wallace
Club: Ulster
DoB: 27.08.1979
Position: Utility back
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 12 st 10 lbs
Caps: 9
Points: 43
Wallace is regarded as Ronan O'Gara's understudy at No10, and has been in Irish squads since 2002. The Ulster player is equally as comfortable at inside centre or fullback. Along with Brian O'Driscoll and Donncha O'Callaghan, he was a member of the Irish team that won the Under-19 FIRA/World Youth Championship in France in 1998.
Labels: Ireland, rugby union, Six Nations
