Ireland Player Biographies

Following are brief biographies of the Irish World Cup squad (ages correct at start of tournament):

WARREN GATLAND (coach): The New Zealander was appointed coach in February last year and has already turned Irish rugby around in quite a dramatic fashion making him a firm favourite with the fans. He lifted the game in Ireland out of a slump and the strict regime he implimented has been popular with the players, who have the utmost respect for him.

CONOR O'SHEA. Fullback. Age 28. Height 1.88 metres. Weight 99 kg. Caps: 30. A campaigner from the 1995 World Cup, he made his debut against group opponents Romania in 1993 and went on to tour Australia in 1994. Last season he scored his first try in the World Cup qualifier against Georgia.

GORDON DARCEY. Fullback. Age 22. 1.84 metres. 99 kg. Uncapped. Made successful impact with under-21 side last year. His ability as placekicker and his pace ensured his place in the squad ahead of Ulster's Simon Mason but is unlikely to be in starting line-up.

JUSTIN BISHOP. Wing. Age 24. 1.83 metres. 86 kg. Caps: 13. Was a top 10 ranked English squash player before opting to play rugby. The London Irish wing was born in Sussex in England before representing Ireland at under-21 level in 1995. He travelled with the Irish development squad on a tour of New Zealand and Samoa in 1997 and made his debut against South Africa in 1998 and was an ever present in the Irish side last season. He has scored 15 points in his 13 appearances.

JAMES TOPPING. Wing. Age 24. 1.80 metres. 90 kg. Caps: five. The Ballymena player has been plagued by injury and has only won a handful of caps as a result. Last appeared in full international in 1997 when he played against Italy, France and England. He won his first cap in 1996 against Samoa.

MATT MOSTYN. Wing. Age 24. 1.88 metres. 95 kg. Caps: two. Galwegians wing was born in Sydney but qualifies for Ireland because his grandfather was born on the Emerald Isle. He made his debut in Australia and won his only other cap against Argentina where he scored three tries. He spent last season playing his club rugby with Belges Bordeaux in France.

KEVIN MAGGS. Centre. Age 25. 1.80 metres. 89 kg. Caps: 20. The Bath player was brought into the senior side in 1997. He joined the successful English club last season and was another ever present for Ireland. He sometimes plays on the wing. Had no interest in rugby for first 17 years of life before he was persuaded to turn out for his home town Bristol Colts.

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL. Age 20. 1.80 metres. 90 kg. Caps: three. Blackrock Centre won four under 21 caps before he was included in the senior squad for the game against Italy in April. At only 20 he is tipped to be a big name of the future. He won the first of his three caps against Australia in Brisbane and has remained in the side ever since.

JONATHAN BELL. Centre. Age 25. 1.80 metres. 96 kg. Caps: 29. Dungannon centre has 30 international points including six tries to his name. He was only 20 when he won his first cap in Australia in 1994. Last year he was instrumental in helping Ulster lift the European Cup.

MICHAEL MULLINS. Centre. Age 29. 1.80 metres. 93 kg. Caps: one. New Zealand-born centre plays his rugby with Young Munster after a spell at English side West Hartlepool. Won his only senior cap for Ireland against Argentina as a replacement and qualifies through his father who comes from Limerick. He did play for New Zealand under 21s before moving to Hartlepool.

DAVID HUMPHREYS. Flyhalf. Age 28. 1.78 metres. 83 kg. Caps: 18. Dungannon player is likely to take on the kicking duties during the competition. He captained Ulster side to victory over Colomiers in European Cup final last season. Made his debut in 1996 against France and has scored 121 international points.

ERIC ELWOOD. Flyhalf. Age 30. 1.83 metres. 90 kg. Caps: 32. Galwegians flyhalf is preparing for his second World Cup campaign. Made an explosive debut when he scored 11 of his side's 19 points against Wales in 1993. Has scored 276 points and could find a place in the side because of his fine kicking performances. He holds the Irish record for kicking penalty goals with a tally of 66.

THOMAS TIERNEY. Scrumhalf. Age 23. 1.83 metres. 83 kg. Caps: three. Made his debut in Australia during the recent tour where he made his first two appearances. Also played in the friendly victory in August against Argentina.

BRIAN O'MEARA. Scrumhalf. Age 23. 1.75 metres. 83 kg. Caps: four. Has not played an international since 1998 against Scotland. He won his first full cap against England in 1997 but has yet to score for Ireland.

DION O'CUINNEAGAIN. Flanker (captain). Age 27. 1.91 metres. 104 kg. Caps: 13. He was born in South Africa but is eligible for Ireland through his parents who were both born in Ireland. A brilliant performance against South Africa in November 1998 gave him first choice status for the 1999 Five Nations.

ERIC MILLER. Number eight/flanker. Age 24. 1.91 metres. 103 kg. Caps: 15. Made his debut against Italy in 1997 and scored his only try against Wales in the same year. Suffered injury problems after British Lions tour to South Africa in 1997 with a long-term ankle problem.

DAVID CORKERY. Flanker. Age 26. 1.93 metres. 106 kg. Caps 27. The 26-year-old was born in Cork and made his debut for Ireland in 1994. He played four times in the 1995 World Cup.

TREVOR BRENNAN. Flanker. Age 26. 1.96 metres. 103 kg. Caps: seven. Made debut during 1998 tour of South Africa. He spent periods playing his club rugby with Barnhall and Bective Rangers.

ANDY WARD. Flanker. Age 29. 1.91 metres. 102 kg. Caps: 15. New Zealand-born back row has been a revelation for Ireland since making his international debut in 1998. He was substituted midway through the second half of Ulster's victory over Toulouse in the quarter-final of the European Cup because his wife had gone into labour.

KIERON DAWSON. Age 24. Flanker. 1.85 metres. 98 kg. Caps: three. London Irish player made debut in 1997 against All Blacks. He is just returning from a long injury lay-off and has not played for his country since 1998.

PADDY JOHNS. Lock. Age 31. 1.98 metres. 110 kg. Caps: 54. Dungannon lock made his debut in October 1994 against Argentina and is now one of most experienced members of squad. He missed the 1991 tournament but played four times in 1995. Johns has played in the last 25 consecutive games for Ireland dating back to the 1996 test against group opponents Australia in Dublin.

JEREMY DAVIDSON. Lock. Age 27. 1.98 metres. 114 kg. Caps: 23. Would have more caps but terrible knee injury ruled him out of the 1997-98 season. Now back playing club rugby with Castres and many believe his form is as good as ever.

MALCOLM O'KELLY. Lock. Age 25. 2.03 metres. 106 kg. Caps 15. O'Kelly missed last season's Five Nations campaign through injury but has made a succesful return in the three games since. Made his debut in 1997 against All Blacks. Prior to his injury he made 12 consecutive appearances in the green jersey.

ROBERT CASEY. Lock. Age 21. 2.01 metres. 117 kg. Uncapped. Has played five times for the under 21 side and made quite an impression. His ability to win the ball in the line-out is probably the strongest part of his game.

PAUL WALLACE. Prop. Age 27. 1.83 metres. 110 kg. Caps: 30. Cork-born player has scored three tries for Ireland. A regular in the side, playing in 28 of the last 32 games, he also played in all three tests of the 1997 British Lions tour of South Africa. He has fond memories of the last World Cup in 1995 when he made his debut against Japan.

PETER CLOHESSY. Prop. Age 33. 1.80 metres. 107 kg. Caps: 31. Young Munster Prop has become one of the most respected props in world. He should have been a certain member of the World Cup squad in 1995 but was ruled out because of work commitments.

REGGIE CORRIGAN. Prop. Age 28. 1.88 metres. 116 kg. Caps: nine. Became a professional rugby player in 1997 and call into the Ireland squad soon followed and he made his debut against Canada. Has also spent six months playing rugby in New Zealand.

JUSTIN FITZPATRICK. Prop. Age 20. 1.88 metres. 118 kg. Caps: 10. Chichester-born player did play at students level for England but made his Irish debut during the 1998 tour to South Africa where he played in both tests. He joined Dungannon from London Irish and so qualified to play for Ulster last season and was the recipiant of a European Cup winners medal.

ANGUS MCKEEN. Prop. Age 30. 1.80 metres. 104 kg. Uncapped. Experienced player but still without first cap. He has toured with the development team and made his debut for the 'A' side against Wales in 1996.

KEITH WOOD. Hooker. Age 27. 1.83 metres. 106 kg. Caps: 27. Flamboyant player has developed into a world class hooker and has proved a real asset to his club Garryowen and province Munster who had a taste of European rugby last season. Well remembered for two outstanding performances for the British Lions against South Africa in 1997. Made his debut in 1994.

ROSS NESDALE. Hooker. Age 30. 1.78 metres. 102 kg. Caps: 11. New Zealand-born hooker played in Auckland before moving to northern hemisphere in 1997. His father was born in Cork and he made debut against Wales in 1997. Injury ruled him out of tour of South Africa but he got his chance to tour this year when he was in the Ireland party in Australia.

Reuters contributed to this report.