Gary Longwell has been cleared to travel by medical staff

Gary Longwell has been given the all clear to travel with the Ireland squad for their three-match tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa.

The Ulster second row received the good news following a medical check-up on Tuesday, and will fly out with the 41-man squad on Thursday.

Longwell had been confined to bed with a virus and high temperature which has left him unable to eat since Saturday.

The Ulster lock was kept in isolation since Sunday, but there was a big improvement in his condition on Tuesday.

The Irish party are due stop in Singapore on their way to Perth and concerns over the respiratory infection SARS had put a question mark over Longwell's trip.

Longwell will leave the squad's base in Dublin to travel home on Tuesday for a family bereavement before linking up again with the tour party.