Scrumhalf Tomas O'Leary has been left out of Ireland's 32-man squad for the Six Nations.

The Munster No.9 lost out to rivals Eoin Reddan and Peter Stringer, with Ireland coach Declan Kidney selecting O'Leary in the second-string Wolfhounds squad.

Winger Luke Fitzgerald and hooker Rory Best recovered after being injured in the November Tests to make the squad, and uncapped Connacht backrower Mike McCarthy was also called up.

Leicester fullback Geordan Murphy missed out with a broken foot that could rule him out for the season.

"The level of competition in each position is probably as great as it has ever been over the last two years," Kidney said.

Ireland's first match of the Six Nations is away to Italy on February 5.

Ireland squad:

Forwards: Rory Best, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings, Denis Leamy, Mike McCarthy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien, Mick O'Driscoll, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, David Wallace.

Backs: Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Gavin Duffy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace.

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