Guy Easterby is perhaps the most surprising inclusion a 26-man Ireland squad which will congregate in Galway next Monday for a three-day training camp under coach Warren Gatland. Promising young players, Lansdowne's Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll of UCD have also been invited to attend. It is hoped that the IRFU Rugby Academy pupils will benefit from the experience.
London Scottish scrum-half Easterby admitted he was stunned, if delighted by his call-up. "I had no idea this was coming but am absolutely thrilled and now simply cannot wait until next Monday," he said.
The 27-year-old Yorkshireman has been on the bench for Ireland A on three occasions, the last of which was against Canada in Ravenhill in November, 1997.
He came on that day for the unfortunate Australian-born Brad Free, who was stretchered from the pitch with a broken leg. Easterby was playing with Rotherham at the time, a Division Two team. They were involved in a play-off scrap with London Irish at the end of last season to decide a Division One berth. The Exiles were successful.
Easterby decided that he needed rugby at the higher level and despite inquiries from Richmond went to London Scottish. "I wanted to be guaranteed a first team place. There was no point in moving somewhere and then sitting on the bench. It has certainly worked out, particularly now with this call-up. I've had chats with a few of the London Irish guys and they told me to just keep playing well and the break would come. I hadn't given up hope."
Easterby qualifies for Ireland by virtue of his Irish mother, Catherine, nee Doyle, whose family home is virtually opposite the gates of Stradbrook, home to Blackrock College. Brother Simon, who was the outstanding player in the Ireland under-21 team of two years ago, is a backrow forward currently playing with Leeds.
Guy Easterby says strong defence and an ability with the ball in hand to bring others into the game are his main attributes. Gatland's decision to introduce him to the squad offers an interesting new dimension to the battle for the scrum-half berth against France at Lansdowne Road on February 6th. Otherwise the squad bears a familiar look, with the exception of the John McWeeney. His return to national prominence after a difficult debut against New Zealand may be attributable to a string of excellent performances for Leinster and St Mary's College. Club-mate Trevor Brennan also returns to the squad.
The squad will train on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile UCC have named a strong team for Wednesday's European Universities' Cup semi-final against Welsh counterparts Harper Adams. The match takes place tomorrow night in the Mardyke (7.0). One notable absentee is Munster second row Mick O'Driscoll.
Irish Squad: C O'Shea (London Irish), G Dempsey (Terenure), J Bishop (London Irish), J McWeeney (St Mary's), J Bell (Dungannon), K Maggs (Bath), R Hender- son (Wasps), E Elwood (Galwegians), D Humphreys (Dungannon), C McGuinness (St Mary's), C Scally (UCD), G Easterby (London Scottish), P Clohessy (Young Munster), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), R Corrigan (Lansdowne), P Wallace (Saracens), K Wood (Harlequins), R Nesdale (Newcastle), P Johns (Saracens), M O'Kelly (London Irish), J Davidson (Castres), D O'Cuinneagain (Sale), E Miller (Terenure), V Costello (St Mary's), T Brennan (St Mary's), A Ward (Ballynahinch). Also invited to attend: G D'Arcy (Lansdowne), B O'Driscoll (UCD).
UCC: C Healey; N Kenneally, P Barry, A O'Shea, D Holt; B O'Mahony, P Stringer; A McSweeney, J Flannery, M Ross; B Cahill, J Fitzgerald; J Sheehan, T Cahill, D Lane.
