Earls ruled out of Ireland tour

Keith Earls is replaced in the squad by Connacht's Gavin Duffy

Keith Earls has become the latest player to be ruled out of Ireland's tour of New Zealand and Australia.

The British & Irish Lions winger has been forced to withdraw from the squad because of a groin injury so Connacht's Gavin Duffy is called up.

Earls joins Paul O'Connell, Rory Best and Kevin McLaughlin on the list of players who have been forced to miss the tour.

Stephen Ferris, Luke Fitzgerald and Denis Leamy are missing through injury.

Duffy has been named in the Ireland XV for the non-cap game against the Barbarians at Thomond Park on Friday evening.

Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in 22 attempts and their chances of breaking that duck appear to have receded with the news over Earls.

The Munster three-quarter has emerged this season as one of Ireland's main game-breakers and has scored six tries in 10 Tests.

McLaughlin's withdrawal meant a call-up for Munster's twice-capped back-row forward Niall Ronan.

606: DEBATE Ireland has too small a squad to cope with this sort of punishing schedule scrumdown2

Coach Declan Kidney had already lost lock O'Connell and Ulster hooker Best to groin and ankle injuries.

Leinster hooker John Fogarty was called up to replace Best while another uncapped man, Ulster's Ed O'Donoghue, took over from Lions captain O'Connell.

The Ireland squad is preparing for Friday's encounter with the Barbarians at Thomond Park.

Their first match of the tour is a meeting with New Zealand in New Plymouth on 12 June.

The New Zealand Maoris team is the next opposition for Ireland in Rotorua on 18 June as part of the Maoris centenary celebrations.

The final game of the tour will see Ireland playing their Rugby World Cup Pool C opponents Australia in Brisbane on 26 June.

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