NEWS: It has been a day of huge setbacks for Ireland after news that brothers Rob and Dave Kearney will both miss Ireland's tour to South Africa because of injuries.
Earlier on Thursday, Ireland lost the services of their star flyhalf Jonathan Sexton for the series after after the flyhaf undwent surgery on his injured shoulder.
Ireland also lost Luke Fitzgerald earlier this week as week as well. They were already without Sean O'Brien, Cian Healy and Tommy Bowe for the three-Test series
Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Sexton picked up their injuries in last
Saturday's Pro12 final.
Fitzgerald sustained a knee ligament injury and Kearney picked up a calf strain.
All three players are expected to return to action at the start of next season.
Rob Kearney pulled up in training yesterday and a subsequent scan has shown a hamstring strain that will rule him out of the tour.
The injuries are a major blow to Ireland's chances of a first win on South African soil.
Ireland, in seven Tests against the Boks on SA soil, have only once come close to a win - losing 10-12 in Durban in 1981.
Their biggest defeat was 0-33 in Pretoria in 1998 - to this day one of the most spiteful Tests between the two countries.
The Ireland coaching team have called up Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Ian Madigan and Tiernan O'Halloran to replace the injured quartet
The inclusion of former Ireland Under-20 star O'Halloran means there are three uncapped players in the squad with Sean Reidy and Quinn Roux already named to tour.
The squad departs for South Africa on Sunday, June 5 and will play Tests in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Ireland last toured South Africa in 2004.
Revised Ireland Squad:
Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Rory Best (captain), Sean Cronin, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, David Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Sean Reidy, Mike Ross, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner.
