Rugby World Cup: Injured Cian Healy included in Ireland squad

Dublin: Ireland included injured prop Cian Healy in their 31-man Rugby World Cup squad on Monday but winger Andrew Trimble missed out as the Six Nations champions picked from a full strength panel loaded with depth.

The versatile Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald, who picked up knocks in Saturday’s loss to Wales, were named among 14 backs that include just two scrum-halves, allowing Ulster’s Darren Cave to travel as specialist cover at inside centre, with fly-half Ian Madigan set to be an emergency fall back option at number nine.

In the pack, back-up tighthead props Nathan White and Tadhg Furlong, who have just three caps between them, beat Marty Moore in another tight call after injury kept Moore out of the recent warm-up games.

Paul O’Connell captains the squad that begin their campaign against Canada on September 19 before going on to face Romania, Italy and France.