Mick Kearney: 'Ronan O'Gara could return for Ireland'

Ireland team manager Mick Kearney has insisted that Ronan O'Gara still has an international future.

The Munster fly-half was dropped from the Ireland squad for the first time in 13 years on Sunday, with head coach Declan Kidney opting for Jonathan Sexton, Ian Madigan and Paddy Jackson instead.

"I don't think this marks the end of Ronan's international career," Kearney told Sky Sports News. "There's still every possibility that he may be involved again.

"By leaving him out of the squad for France, it certainly wasn't Declan's intention that he was writing off his international career. That's not the case at all.

"It's a selection call. Declan spoke to Ronan on Sunday. He wanted to give Ronan advance warning of what his thinking would be."

O'Gara has won 128 caps for Ireland since making his debut in 2000.