Ireland rest quartet for Argentina rugby tour
London (AFP) - Ireland have rested four players and included an uncapped quartet in their 30-man squad announced Monday for next month's tour of Argentina.
In what will be Ireland's first Test series since the retirement of centre great Brian O'Driscoll, the 2014 Six Nations champions will be without Sean O'Brien, Cian Healy, Gordon D'Arcy and Tommy Bowe, who've all been given a break by coach Joe Schmidt.
Meanwhile promising Leinster fly-half Ian Madigan will travel to Romania with the Emerging Ireland team.
Those selected for the two Test series against the Pumas include the uncapped quartet of Munster prop James Cronin, Ulster back-row Robbie Diack and hooker Rob Herring and Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion.
A squad captained by veteran lock Paul O'Connell is due to leave for Buenos Aires on June 1, the day after the Celtic League final between Leinster and Glasgow.
Ireland squad
Backs (14)
Darren Cave (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Felix Jones (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing-Metro/FRA), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster)
Forwards (16)
Rory Best (Ulster), James Cronin (Munster), Robbie Diack (Ulster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Marty Moore (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Munster, capt), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Damian Varley (Munster)
Fixtures
June 7: Argentina v Ireland, First Test, Resistencia (1840GMT)
June 14: Argentina v Ireland, Second Test, Tucuman (1840GMT)
