Two players have been released from Ireland’s World Cup training squad

Back to provincial duties.

Joe Schmidt has made his first two cuts from Ireland's wider World Cup training squad. The Kiwi has released Ulster hooker Rob Herring and Leinster centre Noel Reid. The news was broken at Carton House by Irish skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy. He told reporters, '[Trimming the squad] is in the process of happening. There's two guys gone back to their provinces this week and over the next while, it'll be an ongoing process. Murphy called the injury withdrawal [hip] of Tommy O'Donnell a 'massive blow' and had no significant update on rehabbing prop Cian Healy, other than the fact that he is still training with the squad.