Warrington's Chris Bridge is the surprise inclusion in Ireland's preliminary 40-man squad for the World Cup.

The 24-year-old was expected to miss the rest of the year with a ruptured Achilles suffered in the second round of the engage Super League season.

But after speaking with Warrington, coach Andy Kelly has named Bridge, along with 14 other Super League players in his squad.

"We have spoken to the Warrington team management and have been told that if Chris is passed fit by their club medical staff he could be considered at a later stage," said team manager Mike Callaghan.

Bridge is joined in the squad by Melbourne Storm's title-winning prop Brett White and Wests Tigers winger Shannon McDonnell. Seven players have been selected from the Irish Carnegie League.

Wigan's goal-kicking full-back Pat Richards is another notable inclusion, whilst Barrow's former Wigan forward Mick Cassidy has been included at the age of 35.

"We believe this to be a balanced squad," Callaghan added. "If any further players become available for Ireland then they will be considered by Andy Kelly and his coaching staff who now face the difficult task of reducing this 40-man group to the final 24-man squad for the tournament."

Ireland preliminary 40-man squad: Paddy Barcoe (Carlow), Dave Bates (unattached), Bob Beswick (Widnes), Damien Blanche (Wakefield), Declan Brady (North Dublin), Chris Bridge (Warrington), Mike Brodie (Treaty), Dave Buckley (York), Mick Cassidy (Barrow), Ged Corcoran (Sheffield), Gavin Dodd (Widnes), Lee Doran (Leigh), Liam Finn (Dewsbury), Simon Finnigan (Bradford), Karl Fitzpatrick (Salford), Dean Gaskell (Widnes), Stevie Gibbons (Carlow), Sean Gleeson, Jason Golden, Scott Grix (all Wakefield), Simon Grix (Warrington), Gareth Haggerty (Harlequins), Paul Handforth (Featherstone), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Graham Holroyd (Halifax), Wayne Kerr (Carlow), Stuart Littler (Salford), Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington), Shannon McDonnell (Wests), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Shayne McMenemy (Western Reds), Eamon O'Carrol (Wigan), Kevin O'Rhiordan (Treaty), Michael Platt (Bradford), Paul Prescott, Pat Richards (both Wigan), Tony Stewart (Leigh), Ryan Tandy (Wests), Billy Treacy (Treaty), Brett White (Melbourne).

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