London (AFP)
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has called two newcomers into the wider group of players he has selected to prepare for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, according to the list unveiled Tuesday.
Second row Jean Kleyn and back Mike Haley, both of whom play with Munster, were added to the 44-man squad, while injured Dan Leavy and Sean O'Brien went on the bench.
Kleyn, 25, was born in South Africa but will be able to become an Irish international from August 8: he will have spent three years in Ireland. Haley grew up in England but one of his grandmothers was Irish.
Joe Schmidt will have to reduce his group to 31 players for the start of the World Cup in Japan (20 September-2 November). The Irish are in Pool A with Scotland, Japan, Russia and Samoa.
The group of preselected players:
Forwards (24): Finlay Bealham, Rory Best, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Jean Kleyn, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O ' Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, John Ryan, Ryan Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Devin Toner, Josh van der Flier
(20): Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway, John Cooney, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Mike Haley, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Rory Scannell, Jonathan Sexton, Jacob Stockdale
? 2019 AFP