Sports Digest: New Irish rugby players prepare for the RBS Six Nations

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Irish rugby team's head coach Declan Kidney

Photo by PA Archive/PA Photos

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Ireland coach Declan Kidney has freshened things up and added new blood to his Six Nations squad ahead of Sunday’s opening fixture against Wales.

Munster wing sensation Simon Zebo has been joined in a 32-man senior squad by Dan Tuohy, Eoin O’Malley, Peter O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Chris Henry, Rhys Ruddock, David Kearney and Brett Wilkinson.

Zebo, Kearney  -- brother of Rob -- O’Malley, O’Mahony and Wilkinson are all uncapped.

Leinster captain Leo Cullen is missing as expected after he opted to undergo surgery on troublesome ankle injuries.

Kidney will name his team to play Wales after a training session on Wednesday morning.

Zebo and Tuohy impressed the coach when they played for the Irish Wolfhounds in the defeat to the English A team last Saturday but are unlikely to feature on Sunday.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll, David Wallace and Jerry Flannery are still long-term injury absentees from the Irish squad, while the English based Geordan Murphy and Tony Buckley have not been included.

The Ireland squad is -- forwards: R. Best (Ulster), T. Bowe (Ospreys), T. Court (Ulster), S. Cronin (Leinster), S. Ferris (Ulster), C. Healy (Leinster), J. Heaslip (Leinster), C. Henry (Ulster), S. Jennings (Leinster), S. O’Brien (Leinster), D. O’Callaghan (Munster), P. O’Connell (Munster), P. O’Mahony (Munster), M. Ross (Leinster), D. Ryan (Munster), R. Ruddock (Leinster), D. Tuohy (Ulster), B. Wilkinson (Connacht).

Backs: G. D’Arcy (Leinster), K. Earls (Munster), D. Hurley (Munster), R. Kearney (Leinster), D. Kearney (Leinster), F. McFadden (Leinster), C. Murray (Munster), R. O’Gara (Munster), E. O’Malley (Leinster), E. Reddan (Leinster), J. Sexton (Leinster), A. Trimble (Ulster), P. Wallace (Ulster), S. Zebo (Munster).
 
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RACING: Jockey Ruby Walsh is to appeal against a three day ban imposed for interference at Cheltenham on Saturday when he partnered Pearl Swan to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial . . .

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GOLF: Darren Clarke has parted company with Irish caddy John Mulroney less than a year after they won the British Open . . .

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