Tipperary player Diarmuid Barron has answered Ireland's call

Munster hooker Diarmuid Barron has travelled to Biarritz with the Ireland rugby squad ahead of Saturday’s final World Cup warm-up clash against Samoa.

Barron, from New Inn, who was briefly with the squad earlier in the pre-season, has joined Ireland head coach Andy Farrell’s group amid growing concern over first-choice hooker Dan Sheehan.

Sheehan suffered a foot injury in Saturday’s warm-up win against England at the Aviva Stadium and limped off in the first half. He has remained in Ireland this week.

The Leinster man underwent a scan on the injury and although Ireland have not provided an official update on the results, there is clearly concern as he was left back in Ireland to rehabilitate his injury.

It’s understood that Sheehan may be facing several weeks on the sidelines, with Ireland needing to consider whether to bring him to the World Cup with his injury, considering that he could miss the opening rounds. It seems likely they would, given how important he has become to the team.

Andy Farrell would hope to have a player as important as Sheehan back in time for the crucial third and fourth Pool B games against South Africa and Scotland, but it remains to be seen exactly how serious his injury is.

An update is expected later this week.

Diarmuid Barron, meanwhile, made four appearances for Emerging Ireland and Ireland A last season and was a try-scorer in Munster’s URC final win over the Stormers in May.

The 25-year-old has made 57 appearances for his club.

Hooker Rónan Kelleher, who is nursing a hamstring issue, is understood to be with Ireland in France, although it’s unlikely he will be fit to play against Samoa.

Ulster pair Rob Herring and Tom Stewart are the other two hookers in Farrell’s squad, while the uncapped Diarmuid Barron has now given them another option.

Diarmuid is a son of Kevin and Alice Barron from Racecourse Cross and his selection for the Irish squad is a proud moment for the New Inn/Knockgraffon parish, Rockwell Rovers GAA Club and Cashel Rugby Club.

He is wished the best of luck at the weekend.

As the Irish Heart Foundation’s new ambassador, he recently revealed how the death of a young cousin from a cardiac illness inspired him to learn life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Barron has been trained in CPR by secondary school students at Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, Co Limerick – and their teacher, Michelle Herbert, who suffered a heart attack while playing camogie.

She only survived after she received life-saving CPR on the pitch from an opponent.

Garryowen player Barron has said that he knows from personal experience the devastating impact cardiovascular disease can have on lives.

“A number of my family members have experienced cardiovascular disease and my cousin passed away from a heart condition when she was young,” he said.

He described himself as “very proud” to have been asked to join the Irish Heart Foundation as an ambassador.

“The Irish Heart Foundation is there for people who need help, to support them when they leave hospital after a heart event or stroke or are worried about heart health,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ireland have also confirmed that number eight Jack Conan, who suffered a foot injury three weekends ago against Italy, has stayed in Ireland, as has loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne, who is carrying a hamstring injury.

Ireland boss Farrell will have to decide whether they make his final squad for the World Cup, having been sidelined in recent weeks.

Ireland arrived in Biarritz on Sunday and trained at the Stade Jean Dauger in nearby Bayonne on Monday.

They will face Samoa in the same stadium at 7.45pm Irish time on Saturday night in their final game before the World Cup kicks off.

The squad will travel back to Ireland next Sunday and the World Cup squad will be named on Monday, August 28 before the team travels to their base in Tours later next week.