Ireland add three players to squad to face Wales

FILE PHOTO - Rugby Union - England U20 v Ireland U20 RBS Under 20 Six Nations 2010 - Kingsholm, Gloucester - 26/2/10 John Cooney - Ireland U20 in action Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew Couldridge

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland have called up John Cooney, Garry Ringrose and Niall Scannell to train this week after injuries picked up at the weekend in club action depleted the squad going into Saturday’s Six Nations encounter against Wales.

Cooney, 27, will provide cover at scrum half after Luke McGarth picked up a knee injury playing for Leinster and was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Ringrose, 23, is drafted in to fill the gap left at centre by an injury to Robbie Henshaw while hooker Scannell, 25, fills in after Rob Herring injured his elbow playing for Ulster in the PRO14 at the weekend.

FILE PHOTO - Britain Rugby Union - Wales v Ireland - Six Nations Championship - Principality Stadium, Cardiff - 10/3/17 Wales' Rhys Webb in action with Ireland's Garry Ringrose Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic

Ringrose has had to recover from an ankle injury of his own this year. He last played for Ireland against Japan in June, as did Scannell.

Ireland have won their opening two matches in the Six Nations, and host a Welsh side who beat Scotland before losing narrowly to England in their second game.

FILE PHOTO - Rugby Union - Ireland v England - Six Nations Championship - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - 18/3/17 Ireland's Niall Scannell comes on for Rory Best after he sustained a head injury Reuters / Clodagh Kilcoyne Livepic

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Kevin Liffey)