Byrne - Keith Wood's understudy.
SHANE BYRNE
Born: 18.07.71
Weight: 15st 6lb
Height: 5ft 10in
Position: Hooker
Club: Leinster
Caps: 22
Points: 5
Byrne was a rising star in Irish rugby way back in 1994.
He had progressed through the Student and Under-21 ranks to tour with the senior side to Australia in the autumn of that year.
However he failed to make an impact and incredibly wasn't to earn his first cap until June 2001 against Romania.
He won further caps as a replacement against Wales, England and Scotland in the 2002 Six Nations matches and started against Italy.
An appearance in the second Test against New Zealand on the summer tour followed and Byrne has had a key role to play in recent Tests with first-choice Keith Wood struggling with prolonged injury problems.
A reliable hooker, he is likely to act as cover for Wood, coming off the bench late in the game when the veteran captain begins to slow up.
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