The Munster star has been included in the summer tour party travelling to New Zealand and Australia, after an injury to Andy Trimble.

"I was told on the Thursday night that I was in the 'A' squad for the Churchill Cup, but then on Friday I was pulled up after training with Munster and told that I was in because there was a problem with Andy's injury", explained Dowling.

"I was thrilled to get the call. Even though there was a change in coach with the squads, I knew there wouldn't have been any real changes in the initial squad. To be in the squad under any circumstance is a massive honour.

"To say I was pleased would be an understatement. The first thing I did was to 'phone my parents," said Dowling.
Dowling acknowledged that his stock has risen significantly in a relatively short space of time.

"This time 12 months ago seven of us from Kilkenny were getting ready for a month long holiday along the East Coast, Brisbane and the Cape Tribulation. Now to be going back as part of the international squad is a big, big honour," he enthused.

Dowling and his Munster team-mates will be excused from the squad for the Barbarians game before flying off with the international squad on the Wednesday after the European Cup final.

"To be honest, going away with the international squad won't count for much unless I have a Heineken Cup winners medal, " he continued. "We've put in so much work over the Winter we owe ourselves a massive performance.