'I was told to keep my body right' - Ross Molony not giving up on Rugby World Cup call-up

Ross Molony says he'll be ready and waiting for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell to come calling ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The Leinster second row was an unlucky omission from the 42-man training squad that's been in camp this summer, but revealed that a phone call from Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell has reassured him he's not too far from the management's thinking.

"I'm not officially on standby, but I was told to keep my body right and that things could happen," the 29-year-old said at the launch of Energia's 'Rugby for All' initiative.

While Molony has yet to earn a Test cap for Ireland, he has been involved in several squads in recent seasons under Andy Farrell, and featured for Ireland A in their meeting with an All Blacks XV in November 2022.

And the experienced lock says his international ambitions remain as strong as ever.

"I got a call this summer from Paulie [O'Connell] when I wasn't selected, and it's still as disappointing for me, on a personal level, as the first time to say I wasn't selected. It's not a nice thing to hear as a player, but I don't think that want and desire to make that [squad] ever goes.

"I'm still playing in Ireland and I still want to play for Ireland.

"It shows that I am close, so all I can do is keep training away, keep my body fit, keep staying healthy and injury-free. It seems obvious, but it's a long campaign, and things could happen."

Molony has been back in pre-season training with Leinster since mid-June, although it's been a largely depleted group, with 20 players currently away in Irish camp.

The province will play several friendlies before the BKT United Rugby Championship gets under way in October, with Leinster heading into the season looking to win their first piece of