WING wonder Shane Horgan is a serious injury worry after Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan announced his 30 man squad for the Rugby World Cup in France next month.

Horgan twisted a knee and suffered ligament damage during the warm-up for Saturday’s defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh and is now given a 50-50 chance of recovering in time for the big kick-off.

His injury has overshadowed Ireland’s preparations for the tournament, and the Meath man was left behind as the team departed for a training camp in France on Sunday night.

Ulster winger Tommy Bowe  left out of the squad along with Keith Gleeson, Mick O’Driscoll, Trevor Hogan, Jamie Heaslip,  Bernard Jackman and Leo Cullen  is now on standby to replace Horgan.

“If he heals quickly, he can make the deadline,” said coach Eddie O’Sullivan, who will delay a final decision on Horgan until the second pool game in France when Ireland play Georgia on September 15.

“If he doesn’t heal quickly, he won’t. But we owe it to him to give him every chance. Shane’s injury means a four-week layoff, depending on his healing powers. That puts him in with a chance of making the second Pool game against Georgia.

“Tommy Bowe will stay with the squad until we get more data on Shane. Keeping our options open is the best we can do at the moment. Shane is a 50-50 chance to make the Georgia match. We’ll know more over the next couple of weeks so we may make a decision sooner.”

O’Sullivan has opted for 16 forwards and 14 backs in his 30 man squad, with rugby league convert Brian Carney in ahead of Bowe at the back and Ulster’s Stephen Ferris and Munster’s Alan Quinlan taking the last two places upfront.

O’Sullivan has picked six back rowers but just three recognized second rows in his squad in Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan and Malcolm O’Kelly, with Quinlan also providing cover there.

O’Sullivan added, “This was one of the toughest moments of my coaching career to select this 30-man squad. The players in the enlarged World Cup squad have all worked their guts out in pre-season and this has been the case throughout the camps over the last number of weeks.

“Unfortunately, we were always going to be limited to 30 players and some very hard decisions had to be made by myself and Niall O’Donovan. The Scotland game solved some of the selection issues in the back row and also back three, and after four years of preparation, we are now on the run in to the tournament.”

The Ireland squad for the Rugby World Cup is:

Forwards: S. Best (Ulster), J. Hayes (Munster), M. Horan (Munster), B. Young (Ulster), R. Best (Ulster), J. Flannery (Munster), F. Sheahan (Munster), M. O’Kelly (Leinster), D. O’Callaghan (Munster), P. O’Connell (Munster), A. Quinlan (Munster ), N. Best (Ulster), S. Easterby (Llanelli), D. Leamy (Munster), D. Wallace (Munster), S. Ferris (Ulster).

Backs: I. Boss (Ulster), E. Reddan (Wasps), P. Stringer (Munster), R. O’Gara (Munster), P. Wallace (Ulster), G. D’Arcy (Leinster), G. Duffy (Connacht), B. O’Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G. Dempsey (Leinster), D. Hickie (Leinster), G. Murphy (Leicester), A. Trimble (Ulster), S. Horgan (Leinster ), B. Carney (Munster).

Hickie To Retire

IN a shock move Ireland and Leinster winger Denis Hickie announced on Monday that he is to quit professional rugby after the World Cup finals in France next month. Hickie, only 31, said, “I have had a very enjoyable and fulfilling career as a professional rugby player.

“I entered the senior ranks at the dawn of the professional era and benefited from all the advances made in that time. I have now decided that the best time to end my career is immediately after the upcoming World Cup.

“It is a decision that I have not come to hastily and as a result I am content that it is both the right thing for me to do and that I am doing it at the right time. But for now my focus is entirely on doing everything I can to help Ireland win the Rugby World Cup.

“Finally, I want to conclude by saying that I have chosen to make this announcement now in the interest of letting Michael Cheika and all at Leinster Rugby prepare accordingly for the upcoming season.”

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan hailed Hickie’s contribution during a decade of rugby for the national side. “I think Denis will be remembered as one of the great wingers of Irish rugby,” said O’Sullivan.

“From my first encounter with him as Irish under-21 coach I knew he was destined for a great career with Ireland. He has always been the consummate professional as is reflected in his performances with Ireland. I wish him every success in his retirement but not before he continues to have a major impact with us at Rugby World Cup.”

Leinster coach Michael Cheika added, “Denis has been a key figure for Leinster during my time as coach over the last two years. As one of the squad’s senior players, his influence in the development and change within our squad has been huge.

“He has come back from serious injury to make strong contributions to our team and for that we thank him.”

Murphy Stars

GEORDAN Murphy was the star of the show as Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls went on trial in Edinburgh on Saturday as what was effectively a second string side lost 31-21 to Scotland in the final game before

coach Eddie O’Sullivan announced his 30 man squad for France.

Murphy booked his seat on the flight to the World Cup with a polished performance at full-back on what was a difficult afternoon for many of his teammates as the Irish pack was beaten out the door in the festival city.

The Leicester full-back missed the last World Cup finals after breaking his leg on the same Murrayfield ground in a warm-up, but will be there this time around and could yet force his way back into the Ireland side.

“Geordan produced a big performance which is what he needed. He delivered when the chips were down and he knew he was under pressure,” said O’Sullivan. “He should feel a great sense of achievement and I’m delighted for him. He needed that display for himself more than anybody else.

“He lost his place in the side because of the competition but now he’s thrown down a marker for the World Cup. It’s great and both he and the team will be stronger for it.”

Sunderland Wins

MICHAEL Chopra struck with a 93rd minute winner as Roy Keane’s Sunderland got their Premiership campaign off to a winning start at home to Spurs on Saturday.

“We had plenty of late goals last season and I keep telling people it is not down to luck. We have the desire to keep going when other clubs might settle for a draw,” Keane said.

“It might cost us in other games but we had that desire to keep going. I am delighted for the players and I think we deserved the victory.”

Cork City striker Roy O’Donovan has completed his move to Sunderland and signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light. Cork will receive approximately ?500,000 initially with a similar amount payable when certain appearance-related conditions are met.

O’Donovan said, “I had a choice between Fulham and Sunderland but when I spoke to the gaffer my mind was made up. This is a big challenge for me and when the chance came about, I didn’t think twice. I had a knack for scoring goals in Ireland and I have to continue that at Sunderland.”

Celtic Wins

STRIKER Kenny Miller moved up the pecking order at Celtic with his goal as Gordon Strachan’s team secured their first win of the new season with a 4-1 victory at Falkirk on Saturday morning.

Strachan told Setanta Sports, “I’m very pleased for Kenny Miller. He set the standard on how we close down up front. He got about the place and we followed him in.”

“He’s number two striker now. Vennegoor of Hesselink and Miller are number one and number two at the moment. Kenny forced himself into the team because of his training performances and his hunger.”

Leicester City are interested in out-of-favor Celtic striker Derek Riordan.

Soccer Shorts

FORMER Ireland under-21 goalkeeper Graham Stack has joined Mick McCarthy’s Wolves on loan. Gary Breen will captain Wolves, beaten by a 95th minute goal at home to Watford on Saturday, this season. Wolves have also agreed an undisclosed fee with Luton for Irish under-21 defender Kevin Foley . . .

ANDY O’Brien’s Portsmouth misery finally came to an end on Monday when he signed for Bolton Wanderers in a two year deal. “Andy is an astute acquisition. His versatility across the back line will give us greater strength in depth and options in critical areas,” said Bolton boss Sammy Lee . . .

ANTHONY Stokes, Darron Gibson, Stephen O’Halloran, Stephen Gleeson and Darren O’Dea have been included in a strong Irish under-21 squad for a friendly in Germany next week . . .

IRELAND’S ladies team advanced to the semifinals of the World University Games in Bangkok when a goal from captain Sonya Hughes secured a 1-0 win over France on Monday . . .

SCOTTISH sides Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United have joined the chase for Derry City defender Darren Kelly . . .

WATERFORD United have signed former Everton and Ireland youths midfielder Alan Kearney.