Ireland release six to play for provinces in PRO-14

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Ireland v Italy - RBS Six Nations Championship 2016 - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - 12/3/16 Ireland's Sean Cronin in action Action Images via Reuters / Clodagh Kilcoyne Livepic/File Photo

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland have released six players who featured in Saturday's historic win over world champions New Zealand to go back and play for their provinces, despite a last test of the year against the United States in Dublin on Saturday.

Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Jack McGrath and James Ryan are all available to play in the PRO-14 competition which resumes at the weekend, the Irish Rugby Football Union said on Monday.

Loose forward Peter O'Mahony, named man of the match after Ireland beat the All Blacks 16-9 for a first-ever triumph over the Kiwis on home soil, will have his training load managed this week after suffering a dead leg on Saturday.

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Ireland vs Scotland - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - March 10, 2018 Ireland’s Rob Kearney in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

Dan Leavy is ruled out, however, with a neck strain and returns to Leinster for further medical treatment.

Leavy had been named to play against the All Blacks but was then taken out of the team on the eve of the game because of fatigue.

Ireland are expected to make wholesale changes for the test against the Americans when coach Joe Schmidt names his team on Thursday.

Rugby Union - Ireland v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - November 10, 2018 Ireland's Jordan Larmour in action with Argentina's Ramiro Moyano REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Christian Radnedge)