Ireland confirm injury replacement for star hooker ahead of Rugby World Cup warm-up with Samoa

Ireland have added hooker Diarmuid Barron to their squad as cover for the injured Dan Sheehan ahead of their Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Samoa in Bayonne on Saturday.

Sheehan was forced off the field late in the first half after injuring his foot during Ireland’s 29-10 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday and will remain in Dublin to do rehabilitation on the injury.

The Irish camp are sweating on Sheehan‘s injury as he has been a revelation at Test level since making his debut against Japan at the Aviva Stadium in 2021.

Ireland boss Andy Farrell is set name his 33-man squad for the global showpiece in France next Monday, but is still waiting to find out the full extent of the 24-year-old’s injury.

Meanwhile, Barron despite being uncapped at Test level, is no stranger to Ireland’s squad.

The Munsterman has been part of his country’s training camp earlier this summer and joins fellow hookers Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher and Tom Stewart in Farrell’s squad for the weekend’s clash with the Pacific Islanders.

The 25-year-old’s came on as a replacement during Ireland A’s 47-19 defeat again All Blacks XV at the RDS Arena in Dublin last November.