Joe Schmidt speaks with his players prior to Ireland's victory against France. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

JOE SCHMIDT has dropped Gordon D’Arcy from his 36-man Ireland squad in a move that could signal the end of an illustrious international career.

The veteran Leinster centre last played for his country against Australia last November and has not been involved in any of the Six Nations games to date with Robbie Henshaw the New Zealander’s preferred option.

At 35, D’Arcy’s chances of making it back look slim, with Ian Madigan covering the position from the bench.

Leinster props Michael Bent and Tadhg Furlong are included along with Ulster second-row Dan Tuohy who is just back from injury.

Expand Close 29 January 2015; Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy during squad training. Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE SPORTSFILE / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp 29 January 2015; Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy during squad training. Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

Schmidt has chosen not to recall Fergus McFadden, Rhys Ruddock and in-form Ulster winger Craig Gilroy into his panel and is expected to largely stick with a similar squad for the crunch clash with Wales. Roger Wilson and Billy Holland are also ommitted after training with the squad in the build-up to the win over England.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, meanwhile, has called Ken Owens and Tomas Francis into his squad.

IRELAND RBS 6 Nations Squad for Rounds 4 & 5:

Forwards (20)

Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Mike McCarthy (Leinster)

Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)

Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Dan Touhy (Ulster)

Backs (16)

Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)

Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

Jared Payne (Ulster)

Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)

Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)

Online Editors