O'Toole gets ready to go to battle in the fields of France

Team manager Michael Kearney also involved in preparing the Men in Green for the great adventure

This week Tom O'Toole can continue his preparations for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in France because he looks certain to play a significant role in forthcoming games as Ireland grapple with what is evolving into a front-row crisis.

Last week against England Ireland's world class hooker Dan Sheehan picked up and injury and on Saturday against Samoa in Bayonne prop Cian Healy limped off with an injury.

It all means that the front row is the section likely to preoccupy the thoughts of coach Andy Farrell and his management team.

A loosehead prop O'Toole was part of the Irish squad that won the Grand Slam earlier this year clinching the title with a victory over England in the Aviva Stadium. He came on as a second-half substitute.

It might have been the fourth time Ireland won a Grand Slam but it was the first time it was claimed in Dublin. History was made.

The first Slam was bagged in 1948 in Ravenhill, the second in Cardiff in 2009 and the third in Twickenham in 2018.

While he spent his early years in Ratoath, O'Toole was six when his family move to Brisbane, Australia for ten years due to his father's work commitments.

He was selected for the Queensland Reds development side and Queensland Schoolboys , before he became involved with the Irish Exiles setup Down Under.

He moved to Campbell College in Northern Ireland which allowed him to link up with the Ulster and Ireland age grade set-ups, going on to play for Ireland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.

He graduated onto the Ulster senior side before getting a call-up to the Irish team. He was part of the Irish tour to New Zealand last year.

Now he is going to the World Cup and could feature in Ireland's opening game in the tournament against Romania on Saturday week.

It was no surprise O'Toole was part of the squad that will carry the nation's hopes in the fields of France.

He has 11 caps to his name. He has also been a regular in the Irish squad gaining experience mainly off the bench but he's could start against Romania.

The Irish squad was announced yesterday in a press conference by coach Andy Farrell, team manager and Meathman Michael Kearney and captain Johnny Sexton.

Kearney, who is from near Dunboyne, took over as Irish manager in 2012 replacing Paul McNaughton.

He filled the role for five years after serving as team manager with the Leinster and Irish u-20s. He also served for a time as President of Lansdowne RFC.

Educated at Castleknock College, Kearney is a successful businessman. He purchased the franchise for Snap Printing and turned it into a very successful enterprise while he has also been involved in Home Instead Senior Care among other ventures.

He was part of the Irish senior set-up at a time when the Boys in Green achieved some of their greatest triumphs including two Six Nations championships won under the guidance of Joe Schmidt and the first victory on South African soil.

He stepped down as team manager for a time before taking up the position once again and now he is closely involved in preparing the team for the World Cup