Huddersfield Giants duo Scott Grix and Anthony Mullally will sit out Ireland’s European Championship campaign.
The Super League pair were both key members of last season’s Irish World Cup squad, with prop Mullally featuring in all three of his country’s group games and full-back Grix twice.
But instead of competing in this autumn’s international clashes against Scotland and Wales, the two Super League stars will now focus all their attention on playing a full part in the Giants’ pre-season training programme.
Grix, in particular, was always likely to take an autumn break, with medical chiefs recommending rest as the only real cure for his troublesome long-standing groin injury.
And with Mullally desperate to gain more Giants Super League gametime in 2015, being involved throughout pre-season training would certainly help his cause.
But their absence means Scotland’s Danny Brough and Joe Wardle will be the only Giants in action during the autumn tournament, with fellow Huddersfield men Craig Kopczak and Larne Patrick having pulled out of the Welsh squad last month.
In fact, with Brett Ferres the only Giants star included in England’s squad for the Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand, just three members of the Huddersfield senior squad won’t be around the club for all of the pre-season campaign.
The absence of Grix and Mulllally was confirmed when Ireland coach Mark Aston announced a squad including eight members of last season’s World Cup set-up in Bob Beswick, Luke Ambler, Stuart Littler, Matty Hadden, Josh Toole, Colton Roche, Danny Bridge and Apirana Pewhairangi.
The squad has, however, been boosted by the inclusion of former Hull and Hull KR full-back Shannon McDonnell. The Australian, who broke his jaw during a short-term stint with St Helens five weeks ago, is hoping to recover in time to make his long-awaited Ireland debut, having missed out on both 2008 and 2013 World Cups through injury.
Aston said: “I am delighted that we have eight of the World Cup panel returning for 2014 and that we have been able to add a number of new players into the system.
“The fixtures against France, Scotland and Wales are always exciting fixtures and I am sure that, with the squads which have been announced, this will be no different in 2014.”
Ireland will begin their campaign against France at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Saturday week.
