Tommy Bowe has been carrying a knee injury which was reviewed by both the Ospreys and Ireland medical teams and respective specialist consultants.

It was concluded that Bowe would not be fit to play against Italy in next week's Six Nations opener. The Ireland medical team will continue to liaise with the Ospreys to determine when he will be fit to return to play.

Meanwhile, number 8 Jamie Heaslip also had his ankle injury reviewed by a specialist today. it has been confirmed the he will not be available for selection for the game at Stadio Flaminio.

Heaslip will continue his rehabilitation and, at this point, has not been ruled out of contention for Ireland's second Championship outing against France on Sunday, February 13.

Ireland will carry a considerable injury list in the Championship, which includes the likes of Andrew Trimble (hand), Rob Kearney (knee), Geordan Murphy (ankle), John Hayes (groin), Jerry Flannery (calf) and Shane Horgan (knee)

Speaking at today's RBS 6 Nations launch in London, Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "You never like to see guys injured - we know how much playing for Ireland means to those guys.

"We've tried to build a squad over the last few years and this will be the test of that. I have a huge belief in the way Irish rugby comes from the grassroots up.

"Of course there won't be as much video analysis on the new guys, so that will be an advantage."

Defence coach Les Kiss admitted: "It may not look good at moment, but we've ambitions to do well in this tournament, and we think we can.

"We've been building a panel for a while and the exposure a lot of those guys have got at Heineken Cup level in recent times is going to serve us well.

"There are a few more injuries than we would have liked, but now it's an opportunity for other guys to stand up. We're not going to put this Six Nations away and build for the World Cup, we want to get a job done here."

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney was handed some good news ahead of tomorrow's preliminary Six Nations squad announcement as Ulster and Leinster allayed injury fears regarding Rory Best and Gordon D'Arcy.

D'Arcy was due to start Leinster's win over Saracens in the RDS but was withdrawn late on due to a calf injury.

However, the centre has not been ruled out of this weekend's trip to Paris to face Racing Metro and a decision on his availability, and that of No 8 Jamie Heaslip, will be made when the team is named on Thursday.

Best was forced from the field in Ulster's narrow win over Biarritz with a rib injury, but Ulster yesterday refused to rule the hooker out of this weekend's trip to Italy to face Aironi in a match that could see the province secure a spot in the last eight of the Heineken Cup for the first time since they won the competition in 1999.

Best's fitness is particularly crucial to Kidney as the luckless Jerry Flannery continues to struggle with injury, though Sean Cronin and Damien Varley provide cover while Ulster's Nigel Brady would be most likely to come into the squad should they suffer any further injuries at hooker.

Full-back is the major area of concern. Geordan Murphy ruled himself out of the Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury while Connacht's Gavin Duffy is in a race to recover in time for the opening match of the tournament in Italy on February 5.

Rob Kearney is still recovering from a knee injury picked up in the Autumn International defeat to the All Blacks.

However, Luke Fitzgerald, who picked up a similar injury to Kearney in the same match, is an option and he completed 80 minutes on the wing for Leinster on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Munster's Donnacha Ryan is a worry as he was on crutches on Sunday night in the wake of the defeat to Toulon.

Kidney will name at least 30 players in his squad tomorrow while an 'A' squad for the clash against Scotland on January 28 will also be announced.

- Donnchadh Boyle

Irish Independent

 

He's back! Denis Leamy

Club name Munster

- 2010/11 Season Preview -

Last season It was a trophy-less campaign for the Red Army in 2009/10 as they were dumped out of both Magners League and Heineken Cup at the semi-final stage. How different it could have been? Losing the influential Denis Leamy due to injury while Jerry Flannery was also ruled out more than he was playing was a blow, but in patches Munster were lethal with ball in-hand. Their Pool win away to Perpignan was a major highlight.

This season Munster have definitely strengthened their squad during the off-season with the arrivals of Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou and Wian du Preez set to compete against Ian Dowling, Lifeimi Mafi and Marcus Horan respectively. I would not rule them out of completing a double this year as they now possess depth all over the field that Tony McGahan can chop and change with. However, they have been dealt a tough Pool of which to get out of, alongside London Irish, Toulon and yes, they will meet the Ospreys again. But you can never write off these men from Munster.

Coach: Tony McGahan had some serious shoes to fill when Declan Kidney assumed the seat left by Eddie O'Sullivan. His first term in charge was impressive as Munster lifted the Magners League but he will be wanting to improve in his third following those recent painful knockout exits.

Captain: The absence of Paul O'Connell of course hit Munster as they crashed out of both Europe and the Magners League at the semi-final stage, to Biarritz and Leinster respectively. But after a decent rest, the 2009 Lions captain should be raring to go alongside Donncha O'Callaghan.

One to watch: Denis Leamy's return to fitness is a major boost for Munster as they really missed him last term. He will once again slot into a back-row line-up of David Wallace and Alan Quinlan while the impact of former Worcester centre Sam Tuitupou, linking up alongside Keith Earls or Lifeimi Mafi, and the form of Tony Buckley during June will also excite the Red Army going into 2010/11.

In: Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Sam Tuitupou (Worcester Warriors), Wian Du Preez (Cheetahs), Peter Borlase (Crusaders), Corey Hircock (Bedford).

Out: Nick Williams (Aironi Rugby), Jeremy Manning (Newcastle Falcons), Julien Brugnaut (Racing Metro), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Ciaran O'Boyle (Released), Eoghan Grace (Exeter Chiefs).

Home ground: Thomond Park - capacity of 26,500

Travel connections: The closest train station to Thomond Park Stadium is Colbert Station, Limerick. Colbert station is in Limerick City and also contains the Bus Eireann bus station.The closest airport to Thomond Park is Shannon Airport. This is approximately 25km from Limerick City. Regular bus services connect the airport to Limerick.

Rhys Ruddock gets his opportunity following the broken arm suffered by John Muldoon and the five week suspension given to number 8 Jamie Heaslip for his red card in Saturday's Test against New Zealand.

With both players out of the tour, Ruddock will fly from Argentina immediately and will join the senior squad in Rotorua on Monday evening ahead of the game against New Zealand Maori next Friday (June 18).

The unfortunate Muldoon will undergo surgery on his broken arm in Auckland in the next 24 hours before returning home with Heaslip.

Second row Mick O'Driscoll suffered back spasms which forced him to leave the pitch during the first half of the All Blacks game. The injury has improved and he will continue to receive treatment over the next 48 hours.

Winger Shane Horgan has also recovered from the stomach complaint that prevented him leaving with the balance of the squad from Ireland and has arrived in Rotorua.

He joins hooker Jerry Flannery who flew out to meet up with the squad in New Plymouth following the calf strain he sustained in the Barbarians game.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "We are obviously disappointed to be losing John following his injury. I felt any replacement should be one that would benefit from the experience.

"There were other options in terms of back row replacements, but rather than bring in somebody who we were already aware of and what they could bring (to the squad), we felt Rhys would be a different option.

"He has performed very well for the Ireland Under-20s and with Leinster when he has had the chance to play this season, so this will be a good chance for him to gain experience and we have every confidence in him."