Malcolm O'Kelly could make his last Leinster appearance on Saturday

Ireland and Leinster second row Malcolm O'Kelly will retire from competitive rugby at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old lock has made 92 Ireland appearances since his debut in 1997 and he is Leinster's most capped player with 186.

O'Kelly is included in Leinster's squad for Saturday's Magners League semi-final against Munster at the RDS.

However, fellow lock Leo Cullen will miss the derby clash in Dublin because of a shoulder injury.

Cullen suffered the injury in the 37-28 victory over Edinburgh on Sunday.

Jonny Sexton, Gordon D'Arcy and Shaun Berne were injury doubts but all three are included in an extended 30-man squad.

O'Kelly won his first Irish cap against New Zealand at Lansdowne Road in 1997.

The St Mary's forward featured for Ireland in three World Cups and played for the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

O'Kelly, who missed out on this year's Six Nations tournament with a knee injury, follows Leinster team-mate Girvan Dempsey in announcing his retirement.

Mick O'Driscoll returns to the Munster squad after missing Sunday's defeat in Cardiff with an ankle injury.

Doug Howlett, who has been out of action since the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Northampton Saints, is also back for Munster.

Leinster squad:

Forwards: John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Trevor Hogan, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Richardt Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright.

Backs: Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton.

Munster squad: S Deasy, D Barnes, D Hurley, D Howlett, T Gleeson, K Earls, L Mafi, J de Villiers, P Warwick, R O'Gara, P Stringer, T O'Leary, M Horan, D Ryan, J Hayes, T Buckley, J Flannery, D Varley, D Fogarty, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, B Holland, A Quinlan, D Wallace, N Ronan, N Williams,J Coughlan.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version