Shock as Toner fails to make World Cup squad

Devin Toner has been left out of the Irish squad that will travel to the rugby World Cup later this month.

The big Moynalvey man was one of the shock omissions from the 31-man squad that was named by coach Joe Schmidt this morning with Jordi Murphy and Kieran Marmion other notables to miss out. 

Toner has been an integral part of the Irish squad for most of the past 10 years and it would have been expected that he would make the squad for this World Cup however he has not been included. 

The IRFU brought forward the squad’s publication from its planned announcement next Sunday and it included disappointing news for the Meathman. Toner was  a member of the larger 41-man squad and had been working with his colleagues at Carton House and in a training camp in Portugal.  

Despite his undoubted lineout expertise and the fact he was a regular in Joe Schmidt’s six-and-a-half years as Irish head coach, the 33-year-old Toner, who has played in 50 of the coach’s 67 tests in charge, misses out to the recently qualified South African-born lock Jean Kleyn.

Kleyn won his first cap within two days of becoming eligible against Italy in Ireland’s first warm-up game, and was retained for the 57-15 defeat against England.

The ankle injury which Toner suffered toward the end of last season may also have contributed to him missing out. In the recent 57-15 loss to England Toner came on as a substitute. 

Ireland are due to kick-off their World Cup campaign with a game against Scotland on Sunday 22nd September.