Reinvoking memories of the defunct Final Trial, a Whites selection will meet a Colours selection in what has been termed a "pre-Summer Tour Ireland National trial match" at Lansdowne Road next Friday (kick-off 6.30).
The teams, which will be coached by Matt Williams and Alan Gaffney, will be captained by David Humphreys and Anthony Foley respectively.
The European Cup semi-final defeats for both Munster and Leinster just over a week ago left the Irish management with a six-week vacuum before the opening Test of Ireland's three-match summer tour against Australia in Perth on June 7th.
Eddie O'Sullivan met with the provincial directors of rugby last week and after consultation came to the conclusion that creating cross-provincial trial matches was a better option than reviving the interpros. A second trial game will take place on Friday, May 23rd in Thomond Park.
Players involved in the AIB league final between Clontarf and Ballymena next Saturday have not been considered, nor have the English-based players, who are involved in the final full round of Zurich Premiership league matches this weekend.
In addition, a 47-strong squad including the English-based contingent has also been named for a five-day training camp starting next Sunday.
The 47-man Ireland pre-Summer Training Camp squad is: - Forwards: Simon Best (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Emmet Byrne (St Mary's College - Leinster), Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster - Greystones), Leo Cullen (Leinster - Blackrock Clollege), Victor Costello (Leinster - St Mary's College), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Dungannon - Ulster), Anthony Foley (Munster - Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster - St. Mary's College), John Hayes (\Munster - Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster - Shannon), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf), Gary Longwell ( Ulster - Ballymena), Aidan McCullen (Leinster - Lansdowne), Niall McMillan (Ballymena - Ulster), Donnacha O'Callaghan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Paul O'Connell (Munster - Young Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Alan Quinlan (Munster - Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Paul Shields (Ulster - Ballymena), David Wallace (Munster - Garryowen), Keith Wood (Harlequins).
Backs: Jonathan Bell (Ulster- Dungannon), Paul Burke (Harlequins), Gordon Darcy (Leinster-Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster-Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Barry Everitt (London Irish), Rob Henderson (Munster-Young Munster), Dennis Hickie (Leinster-St. Mary's College), Anthony Horgan (Munster-Cork Constitution), Shane Horgan (Leinster-Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster-Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster-Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O'Gara (Munster-Cork Constitution), Brian O'Meara (Leinster-Cork Constitution), Brian O'Riordan (Leinster-UCD), David Quinlan (Leinster-Blackrock College), Jememy Staunton (Munster-Garryowen), Peter Stringer (Munster-Shannon), James Topping (Ulster-Ballymena), Paddy Wallace (Ulster-Ballymena).
Not considered due to injury: Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster-Blackrock College) hamstring, Eric Miller (Leinster-Terenure College) groin, Tyrone Howe (Ulster-Dungannon) groin, Justin Bishop (London Irish) ankle, Paul Wallace (Leinster-Blackrock College) .
David Humphreys will captain the Whites, which will be coached by Matt Williams (Leinster) and the Colours will be led by Anthony Folety and coached by Alan Gaffney (Munster) in a pre Summer Tour Ireland National trial match at Lansdowne Road on Friday next, May 9th (kick off 6.30 pm).
WHITES - 15 - Girvan Dempsey; 14 - Geordon Darcy, 13 - John Kelly, 12 - Jonathan Bell, 11 - Anthony Horgan; 10 - David Humphreys captain, 9 - Peter Stringer; 1 - Reggie Corrigan, 2- Frank Sheahan, 3 - Emmet Byrne, 4 - Donnacha O'Callaghan, 5 - Malcolm O'Kelly, 6 - Aidan McCullen, 7 - David Wallace, 8 - Victor Costello. Replacements: 16 - James Blaney (Munster - Shannon), 17 - Justin Fitzpatrick , 18 - Mick O'Driscoll (Munster- Cork Constitution), 19 - John O'Connor (Connacht - Galwegians), 20 - Brian O'Riordan, 21 - Jason Holland (Munster- Shannon), 22 - Ted Robinson (Connacht - Galwegians).
COLOURS - 15 - Jeremy Staunton; 14 - Shane Horgan, 13 - David Quinlan, 12 - Rob Henderson, 11 - Dennis Hickie; 10 - Ronan O'Gara, 9 - Brian O'Meara; 1 - Marcus Horan, 2 - Shane Byrne, 3 - John Hayes, 4 - Leo Cullen, 5 - Paul O' Connell, 6 - Alan Quinlan, 7 - Keith Gleeson, 8 - Anthony Foley captain. Replacements: 16 - Gerry Flannery (Connacht-Galwegians), 17 - Simon Best, 18 - Damien Browne (Connacht-Galwegians) 19 - Des Dillon (Leinster- UCD), 20 - Eoin Reddan (Connacht-Old Crescent), 21 - Bryn Cunningham (Ulster-Dungannon), 22 - Mossy Lawlor (Munster-Shannon). Not considered due to injury: Tyrone Howe, Eric Miller, Brian O'Driscoll, Mick Prendergast (Munster-Young Munster).
Not available for selection: Bernard Jackmam , Gary Longwell, Niall McMillan, Paul Shields, James Topping, Paddy Wallace (AIB League final next day); Kieron Dawson, Paul Burke, Guy Easterby, Simon Easterby, Barry Everitt, Kevin Maggs, Geordon Murphy (club commitments).
