Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Best and O'Connell out of Ireland tour

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Paul O'Connell and Rory Best will both miss the Tests against New Zelaand and Australia

Best and O'Connell out of Ireland tour

29 May 2010, 1:28 pm

By Sportsbeat

Ireland's preparations for their Australasia tour took a major blow with 2009 Lions captain Paul O'Connell and hooker Rory Best ruled out through injury.

Best, 27, had been struggling with an ankle injury while 30-year-old second-row O’Connell was ruled out with a groin problem.

The uncapped pair of Leinster hooker John Fogarty and Ulster second-row Ed O’Donoghue have been named as their replacements.

They join Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy and Fergus McFadden to bring the number of players searching for their international debut to five.

Ireland take on the Barbarians at Thormond Park, Limerick, on June 4 before jetting off for two Tests against New Zealand and Australia on June 12 and June 26.

Declan Kidney is already without back-rowers Denis Leamy and Stephen Ferris, winger Luke Fitzgerald and lock Donnacha Ryan for what promises to be a challenge tour.