Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says its devastating that Cian Healy won't be part of the World Cup squad.
Farrell named his 33 man panel for France yesterday, with Leinster prop Healy absent - he picked up a lower leg injury in the win over Samoa on Saturday.
Cork's Peter O'Mahony and Jack Crowley are included, while Munster duo Keith Earls and Conor Murray have been selected for their fourth World Cup
Farrell says it's a huge blow not to have Healy in the panel.
"Well, it's devastating, isn't it? That's sport, it's life, that's certainly rugby, but Cian is big enough and experienced enough to have gone through these type of things before.
"I remember in 2013 when he was with the Lions, he got injured pretty early in the first game and had to fly home early.
"He's experienced something like this, he understands that these type of things happen and he's devastated, as are we for him.
"It has been a difficult selection process over the last number of weeks because a squad of 43 players have worked extremely hard throughout an eight-week pre-season period, with the group pushing each other on the pitch and becoming very close off it."As coaches, we are pleased with our 33-player selection and believe we have chosen the right group to represent Ireland in France. It is a hugely exciting time for the group as we prepare to depart for Tours and finalise our preparations for our Rugby World Cup opener against Romania."We look forward to the challenges ahead, knowing there is a huge level of support for the team from across the four Provinces, from all those in green around the world and from the thousands who will be in France backing us throughout the tournament."
Ireland Squad - Rugby World Cup 2023Forwards (18):Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)(13)Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(32)Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(41)Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)(39)Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(31)Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)(67)Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)(74)Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(37)Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)(21)David Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians)(52)Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen)(3)Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University)(3)Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(96)Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(11)Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)(54)James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(55)Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)(18)Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(52)Backs (15):Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)(47)Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)(21)Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)(12)Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)(6)Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)(100)Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(26)Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)(16)Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)(64)Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)(31)James Lowe (Leinster)(21)Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)(13)Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)(106)Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas)(6)Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(51)Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(captain)(113)Ireland Fixtures, Rugby World Cup 2023:Pool B:
- Ireland v Romania, Saturday 9 September, Stade de Bordeaux (2.30pm Irish time/3.30pm local time)
- Ireland v Tonga, Saturday 16 September, Stade de la Beaujoire (8pm Irish time/9pm local time)
- Ireland v South Africa, Saturday 23 September, Stade de France (8pm Irish time/9pm local time)
- Ireland v Scotland, Saturday 7 October, Stade de France (8pm Irish time/9pm local time).
