Boks' Pool B foes Ireland name Rugby World Cup squad, veteran prop Healy misses out

Veteran prop Cian Healy was left out of Ireland's Rugby World Cup squad due to injury, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) announced on Sunday.

Healy, 35, limped off the field in Saturday's narrow 17-13 victory over Samoa in their final game before the tournament.

"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," Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said in an IRFU statement.

"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," he added.

Ireland begin their World Cup campaign against Romania on 9 September and also play Tonga, holders South Africa and Scotland in Pool B.

Ireland squad for the Rugby World Cup (8 September - 28 October):

Forwards

Props: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster)

Hookers: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster)

Locks: Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster)

Loose forward: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs

Scrumhalves: Craig Casey (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster

Flyhalves: Johnny Sexton (Leinster, captain), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Munster)

Centres: Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)

Wings: Keith Earls