Ireland add Fergus McFadden to squad ahead of France clash
Tuesday 9 February 2016 17:01, UK
Ireland have added Leinster winger Fergus McFadden to their squad for the Six Nations clash with France on Saturday.
McFadden's call comes in the wake of Keith Earls suffering a concussion in the bruising 16-16 draw with Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.
Earls has passed the first phase of the sport's concussion protocols, and head coach Joe Schmidt has not ruled him out of the game at the Stade de France, but McFadden has been summoned as a precaution.
"Keith has gone through [Head Injury Assessment] HIA1 and has passed that but he's in that place where he's working through those protocols at the moment," Ireland skills coach Richie Murphy said at their Carton House training base.
"He feels pretty good himself but it's a six-day turnaround and stuff like that so we have to assess that later on in the week and see where he's at."
Earls is not Ireland's only doubt for the trip to Paris, with full-back Rob Kearney having not trained with the rest of the group on Tuesday morning, instead working out on his own, although he is in line to train without restriction on Thursday.
Johnny Sexton, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl the day after the Wales game, sat out training because of a minor shoulder problem.
Andrew Trimble was also absent with a shoulder injury and Simon Zebo was sidelined by a knee problem, but Schmidt expects both players to be back in action on Thursday.
But flanker Tommy O'Donnell passed his HIA protocols and has returned to full training, along with fellow back-row Sean O'Brien who missed the Wales game with a hamstring injury.
Props Cian Healy and Mike Ross are poised to return to action this week after injuries but are expected to feature in Leinster's Pro12 clash with Zebre on Friday night.
