British and Irish Lions

The training camp is taking place at Carton House as part of the preparations for Ireland's autumn Tests against South Africa and Argentina and the uncapped international with Fiji.

Head coach Declan Kidney has called up the half dozen fresh faces after a spate of injuries during this weekend's domestic action.

Four of the changes come in the backs, with Leinster fly-half Ian Madigan replacing triple Lions tourist Ronan O'Gara; uncapped Munster centre James Downey taking over from Gordon D'Arcy; Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall deputizing for Eoin Reddan and clubmate Craig Gilroy stepping into Simon Zebo's wing spot.

O'Gara has a dead leg, D'Arcy a rib injury and Reddan a leg problem, while Zebo turned an ankle in Munster's PRO12 win over the Dragons.

The two forwards changes see Connacht prop Ronan Loughney attending in place of Ulster's Declan Fitzpatrick and Leinster lock Devin Toner replacing Mike McCarthy after the latter picked up a calf knock.

Inexperienced Ulster duo Iain Henderson and Luke Marshall were among the notable inclusions in the initial 33-strong squad, while 2009 Lions captain Paul O'Connell was also named despite still being sidelined with a knee injury.

Fellow Lions Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe are also included after missing the summer tour of New Zealand but Sean O'Brien is unavailable because of hip surgery and Luke Fitzgerald is another long-term absentee.

A further Ireland squad will be announced in late October following the completion of the second round of the Heineken Cup.

Ireland training squad

Rory Best (Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
Darren Cave (Ulster)
Tom Court (Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Leinster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Chris Henry (Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Munster)
Luke Marshall (Ulster)
Conor Murray (Munster)
Fergus McFadden (Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster)
David O'Callaghan (Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
Mike Ross (Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ulster)
Dan Tuohy (Ulster)
Damien Varley (Munster)

New additions

James Downey (Munster)
Craig Gilroy (Ulster)
Ronan Loughney (Connacht)
Ian Madigan (Leinster)
Paul Marshall (Ulster)
Devin Toner (Leinster)

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.

British & Irish Lions hookers Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs will fight out their own private duel in the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday and then become team mates for the next six weeks a day later.