JAMES COUGHLAN HAS been called into Ireland’s Six Nations training squad as a replacement for the injured Leo Cullen.
The Munster back-row, who is yet to win a full international cap, linked up with the rest of the squad in Limerick today where preparations began ahead of next week’s tournament opener against Wales.
Although Cullen lined out in Leinster’s Heineken Cup win over Montpellier on Saturday, the big lock was something of a surprise inclusion when Declan Kidney named his 24-man senior panel late last week.
The Leinster skipper is currently suffering from stiffness in both ankles and revealed last week that he will need surgery to correct the problem. If he does choose to go under the knife, Cullen faces up to ten weeks on the sidelines, ruling him out of the entire Six Nations campaign.
Ulster’s Craig Gilroy and the Leinster pair of Jack McGrath and Fionn Carr also joined the senior squad at training in Limerick today. The young trio were invited to join the seniors for the first week of camp after Paddy McAllister and Andrew Conway were forced to withdraw through injury.
Simon Zebo will also skip the Limerick camp, as an injury to Luke Fitzgerald means that Munster’s hat-trick hero will link up instead with the Ireland Wolfhounds, who travel to play the England Saxons in Exeter this weekend.
