Shane Horgan, capped 58 times by Ireland since 2000, will miss the start of the RBS Six Nations Championship for the second year running. The wing has not played since damaging ribs during Leinster’s Heineken Cup defeat by Edinburgh in mid-December and will make his way back to match fitness via the A international in Leicester on Friday, when he will play centre against England Saxons.

Bernard Jackman, his provincial colleague, is pressing Rory Best hard for the starting place at hooker against Italy at Croke Park a week today and the 22-man squad announced yesterday includes other capped players in Tony Buckley, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney who have yet to play in the Six Nations.

England, who open against Wales at Twickenham next Saturday, have retained Michael Lipman, the Bath flanker, and the uncapped duo of Paul Hodgson and Luke Narraway in their training squad, although their injury doubts include Lesley Vainikolo, the wing rested by Gloucester against London Wasps today with a knee injury.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board has confirmed the selection policy aimed at keeping leading players at home. On the same day that Stephen Jones, the fly half, agreed a three-year extension of his contract with Llanelli Scarlets rather than accept an offer from Biarritz, the WRU emphasised how important it was that players see their future with one of the four Welsh regions “to safeguard proper playing development and care”.

Dan Vickerman, the Australia lock, has been linked with a move to Harlequins after deciding not to renew his contract with the Australian Rugby Union after this season. Vickerman, 28 and capped 58 times, will join the exodus from Australasia to Europe.

Bristol have lost one league point for fielding an unregistered player, Haydn Thomas, in the Guinness Premiership. Thomas was recalled from loan with Exeter Chiefs to play against London Wasps last month, but Bristol failed to reregister him.

Squads

Ireland (v Italy, Croke Park, February 2): Backs: G Dempsey, G Murphy, R Kearney, A Trimble, G D’Arcy, B O’Driscoll, R O’Gara, P Wallace, E Reddan, P Stringer. Forwards: A Buckley, J Hayes, M Horan, R Best, B Jackman, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, M O’Kelly, S Easterby, J Heaslip, D Leamy, D Wallace.

Ireland A (v England Saxons, Leicester, February 1): G Duffy; J Murphy, L Fitzgerald, S Horgan, T Bowe; A Dunne, I Boss; C Healy, F Sheahan, B Young, T Hogan, R Caldwell, S Keogh, S Jennings, A Quinlan. Replacements: A Flavin, D Fitzpatrick, D Ryan, D Pollock, C Keane, N O’Connor, D O’Riordan.