17th October 2003: 

 

SIMON BEST is in line to make his World Cup debut after the Ulster prop received a late call-up today into the 22-man Ireland squad to face Namibia in Sydney on Sunday.

Best's promotion to the bench came when Reggie Corrigan was forced to withdraw from the starting XV after he failed to recover from a heavily bruised shoulder following a fall during training on Wednesday. Corrigan is expected to be fine for the Argentina clash.

Munster prop Marcus Horan steps up from the bench to replace Corrigan, but Best is highly likely to get some game time from the bench in what should be a comprehensive victory for the Irish.

"I am obviously disappointed for Reggie; it is not nice to miss a match having played so well, but it gives me an opportunity to show what I can do at this stage," said Best, who will win his fourth cap should he be sprung from the bench.

"It is great to be given the chance to be part of the match day squad and we will see what happens on Sunday.

"I might get an opportunity at some stage, depending on how the game is going, and if I get on I will give it all I have got."

Best admits being part of the match squad has given him a real lift after what must have been a frustrating couple of weeks.

"It can be difficult being in the extra eight in the couple of days before a match because we are not needed as much for training, we are kept slightly away from the squad but you are expected to be helping everybody as much as possible, which can be quite demanding on those who are involved in the game.

"It just has to be a case of training and helping everybody out within the squad and when the 22 is announced the rest of the guys have got to come together and help them out because we are all aiming to do well in the matches and go as far as we can.

"But it is important for us to know that there can always be an opportunity and we have got to hold out for that chance."

Best's promotion could not have been better timed, as his family are due to arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning, the day of the match.

"They had always planned to come out on Sunday. They haven't heard yet but they will be really excited when they hear. It will clear their jet lag." Advance Notice: 16 October 2003

Three of Quin's finest will take part in a charity auction at Bar Red on Thursday 16th. Darren, Willem and J Lowe will feature with a host of the glitterati as "bodies for sale". The whole thing is in aid of Concern and their aid programmes in Liberia. Tickets are on sale from 08000 324001 at £20.
see some pics of the bodies for "sale". Pictures

8th October 2003:
12th October: Gwent Dragons v Glasgow - Simon McDowell
11th October: Peter Ferguson is  going to control a game  under the exchange programme with the Manchester Referees Society

We wish them well on their travels

 7 October 2003:
Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup
2nd Round- Saturday 25th  October 2003

Banbridge2   v   Dungannon 2
Rainey OB    v   Ballymena 2
Carrick        v   Armagh
Coleraine     v   Bangor
GBQuins      v   Omagh
Holywood    v   Enniskillen
Dromore      v   Ballynahinch 2
Ballyclare    v   Cooke

Ireland team named to play Romania

Shane Horgan, who has not played for Ireland because of injury since February last against Scotland in the Six Nations Championship, returns on the right wing for the Rugby World Cup 2003 game against Romania at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Saturday next, October 11th (Kick off 17.00hrs local).

Having missed Ireland's last 10 test games because of thigh injuries, Horgan is chosen in a back line that sees Denis Hickie selected for his 41st appearance to equal the record of most capped Irish winger held by Keith Crossan (1982-92).

The Ireland Team will be captained by Keith Wood for the 32nd time in 54 matches. He becomes the fourth Irishman to have played in three World Cup tournaments, alongside Brendan Mullen and Neil Francis in 1987, 91, and 95 and Terry Kingston in 1991, 95 and 99.

Included in the Replacements after injury are prop forward John Hayes, who has not played for Ireland since March last against England and wing/centre John Kelly, whose last appearance was in the pre-World Cup warm up game against Italy in August last.

*Ireland's record against Romania is played 6, Won 6, Points for - 258, points against - 63.

The Ireland team to play Romania on Saturday next is

15-Girvan Dempsey (Leinster-Terenure College)
14-Shane Horgan (Leinster-Lansdowne)
13-Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster-Blackrock College)
12-Kevin Maggs (Bath)
11-Denis Hickie (Leinster-St. Mary's College)
10-David Humphreys (Ulster-Dungannon)
9-Peter Stringer (Munster-Shannon)
1-Marcus Horan (Munster-Shannon)
2-Keith Wood (Munster-Garryowen)(Captain)
3-Reggie Corrigan (Leinster-Greystones)
4-Malcom O'Kelly (Leinster-St. Mary's College)
5-Paul O'Connell (Munster - Young Munster)
6-Victor Costello (Leinster-St. Mary's College)
7-Keith Gleeson (Leinster-St. Mary'sCollege)
8-Anthony Foley (Munster-Shannon)

REPLACEMENTS
16-Shane Byrne (Leinster-Blackrock College)
17-John Hayes (Muster- Shannon)
18-Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster-Cork Constitution)
19-Alan Quinlan (Munster-Shannon)
20-Guy Eastrerby (Rotherham)
21-Ronan O'Gara (Munster-Cork Constitution)
22-John Kelly (Munster- Cork Constitution)