Ireland lose Johnny Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Rob Kearney for South Africa tour

Ireland have been forced to make four changes to their squad for the forthcoming tour of South Africa.

Fly-half Johnny Sexton, wings Luke Fitzgerald and Dave Kearney and full-back Rob Kearney have all been ruled out of the three Tests due to injury, with Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Ian Madigan and Tiernan O'Halloran drafted in.

Leinster trio Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Sexton picked up injuries in last Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final defeat to Connacht.

Fitzgerald was ruled out of the tour at the weekend after sustaining a knee ligament injury, while Kearney picked up a calf strain.

Sexton injured his shoulder playing against Connacht and has undergone a minor operation this week as a result.

All three players are expected to be back in action for the start of next season.

"Jonathan (Sexton) saw a specialist on Monday evening and it was decided that the best course of action was to get surgery," said Schmidt. "All three of those players will hopefully be ready and fit for the start of the next season.

"Unfortunately those things happen, and it is disappointing, but it is a fantastic opportunity for some of those young players who come in and get their opportunity to put their best foot forward.

"It certainly doesn't change expectations and expectations are never based around results, as much as that's how we're judged. We can't control all the variables around the results."

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Rob Kearney, another Leinster player, suffered a hamstring strain during a training session on Tuesday and has joined the absentees after undergoing a scan.

Connacht's O'Halloran has played for Ireland at U20 level but he joins Sean Reidy and Quinn Roux as uncapped players in the squad.

Ireland depart for South Africa on Sunday with the tour kicking off with the first Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday June 11.

Joe Schmidt's side travel to Ellis Park in Johannesburg for the second Test on June 18 and finish with the third and final Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Ireland squad:

Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Rory Best (Ulster, capt), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster, vice-capt), Iain Henderson (Ulster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Sean Reidy (Ulster),  Mike Ross (Leinster), Quinn Roux (Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster).

Backs: Keith Earls (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Matt Healy (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht), Stuart Olding (Ulster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster).