Ireland receive Jared Payne boost ahead of Wales clash
Jared Payne is back in the Ireland squad for the final two Six Nations matches of 2017
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Ireland international Jared Payne has made a recovery from a serious kidney injury and has been included in the training squad ahead of the Six Nations clash against Wales.
Payne sustained the blow during the autumn internationals last year and was set to be ruled out of the Six Nations tournament, but following his successful outing for his club Ulster last weekend, Joe Schmidt has given him a recall.
Ireland are placed second in the table with two wins from three games and Payne's return could not have come at a better time as they are lined up to take Wales and Grand Slam champions England in the next two encounters.
It will be interesting to see whether Ireland will risk Payne in the game against Wales directly or prefer having Garry Ringrose at outside centre.
"The guys that have battled for us in the last few weeks certainly have to be rewarded," said Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek, earlier this week.
"Jared has obviously got a huge amount of respect from the coaching staff and players.
"I know the players have a lot of respect for him as well so it's our duty to see how he's going."
Leinster fly-half Joey Carbery, who missed the first three games of the tournament with a knee injury also returns to the 36-man training squad.
Ireland squad for final two Six Nations matches against Wales and England.
Forwards: R Best (Ulster, capt), J Conan, T Furlong, C Healy, J Heaslip (all Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), J McGrath, S O'Brien (both Leinster), T O'Donnell (Munster), P O'Mahony (Munster), Q Roux (Connacht), D Ryan, J Ryan, N Scannell, CJ Stander (all Munster), D Toner, James Tracy (both Leinster).
Backs: J Carbery (Leinster), A Conway, K Earls (both Munster), C Gilroy (Ulster), R Henshaw (Leinster), P Jackson (Ulster), R Kearney (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), L Marshall (Ulster), L McGrath (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), T O'Halloran (Connacht), J Payne (Ulster), G Ringrose, J Sexton (both Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster).
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