Ireland announce squad for South Africa tour

Ireland have announced a 32-man squad that will face South Africa in a three-Test series in June.

Ulster flanker Sean Reidy and Connacht lock Quinn Roux are the only uncapped players in the squad which has 22 players overall from Leinster and Ulster.

The squad will leave to South Africa on 5th June with the first Test scheduled to be played at the DHL Newlands Stadium on 11th June while the second and third games will be played at Emirates Airline Park and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 18th and 25th June respectively.

The last time Ireland toured South Africa they lost both the games in the two-match series and Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt is wary of the challenges ahead especially with the fitness of the players.

"Touring South Africa will be arduous to say the least so we've attempted to prioritise players who are currently as close to full fitness as possible.

“In what is always a difficult balancing act, we've taken a long term view with a number of players who need a rest or will benefit from a full pre-season.”

Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo are the players who were unavailable for the selection for the tour.

Ireland Squad for 2016 Summer Tour of South Africa

Forwards (18): Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c), Sean Cronin (St Marys/Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Jack McGrath (St Marys/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (St Marys/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Backs (14): Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St Marys/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)