Jamie Heaslip named Ireland captain

Leinster No.8 Jamie Heaslip will skipper Ireland for the forthcoming Six Nations, it was announced today.
Declan Kidney revealed his 39-man training squad for the annual European showdown which include six uncapped players.
Connacht‘s duo Robbie Henshaw and Dave McSharry, Ulster‘s Paddy Jackson, Lewis Stevenson Paul Marshall and Leinster‘s Ian Madigan are the new faces in the squad but the main news is the change in captaincy.
Heaslip, who led Ireland during the autumn series with former skipper Brian O’Driscoll sidelined, retain the armband despite O’Driscoll’s return to the training squad.
Heaslip said: “I was incredibly honoured when Declan asked me back in November to lead the team in Brian’s absence.
“To lead your country is the ultimate in any sport. To get the opportunity again, considering what an inspirational leader Brian is and the other players who could have been chosen to captain the team, is even more humbling.
I know Brian as a teammate and as a friend and I will be relying on his and the other players support as we head into the Championship.”
O’Driscoll reacted: “The captaincy has been a big part of my career and life over the last number of years, and while I was naturally very disappointed not to be leading the team in the Six Nations, when I talked it through with Declan I accepted the reasons behind the decision.
“I’ve always known that the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was most likely a bridge too far for me, so at some point a player, who will most likely be there for the tournament, needs to build that captaincy experience. Jamie will do a fantastic job and along with the other senior players in the leadership group, I will be giving him all of the support that he needs.”
Kidney said: “Jamie had done a really good job for the squad and management during November and I felt that now was the correct time to do this.
“Brian has had very little rugby in the last number of months and I think he deserves the space and time to concentrate on getting himself back playing fully fit.
“We need Brian the player just as much as we need Brian the captain and typical of the man and the selfless way he has contributed to Irish Rugby and the Ireland team, he has said that the captain and the team would have his full support.”
Ireland kick-off their Six Nations campaign on February 2 against 2012 Grand Slam champions Wales.
Ireland training squad:
Forwards: Michael Bent (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Lewis Stevenson (Ulster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster).
Backs: Isaac Boss (Leinster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Dave McSharry (Connacht), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Ulster).