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Ireland include uncapped duo in Rugby World Cup training squad

Ireland have included the uncapped Munster pair of Mike Haley and Jean Kleyn in their 44-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Full-back Haley arrived in Ireland from English side Sale last summer and has an Irish grandmother while South African-born lock Kleyn qualifies through residency rules.

However, Ireland will be without the injured Dan Leavy and Sean O'Brien. Leavy was ruled out in April due to a "complex knee injury" before Leinster confirmed on Sunday that O'Brien will miss the tournament due to a hip complaint which will require surgery.

Head coach Joe Schmidt said there are still opportunities for players to be added to the squad at a later stage. There was no place for lock Quinn Roux or scrum-half Will Addison, who are two players to have made appearances for Ireland in the last 12 months.

Ireland play four warm up matches before the tournament. The open their four-game series against Italy on Aug. 10 before facing two games against Wales and a match against England at Twickenham.

Full Ireland squad

Forwards (24): Finlay Bealham, Rory Best, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Jean Kleyn Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Devin Toner, Josh van der Flier

Backs (20): Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway, John Cooney, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Mike Haley, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Rory Scannell, Jonathan Sexton, Jacob Stockdale