News round-up: Ireland backrow Eric Miller has announced his retirement from international rugby with immediate effect, but will continue to see out his contract with Leinster until the end of this season, at which time he will retire from all rugby.
The 30-year-old Dubliner won 48 caps for Ireland, making his debut against Italy in 1997, and scored six Test tries.
He was also selected for the first professional tour by the British and Irish Lions to South Africa that same year, where he was the youngest member of the touring party. Miller also played for Ireland in the 1999 and 2003 World Cup tournaments.
Last year the former Wesley College student made six appearances for Ireland, four as a replacement against Italy, Scotland, Wales and France in the Six Nations. He also toured Japan in June, coming off the bench in the first Test and starting the second one, his final Irish match.
"Eric has been a magnificent servant to both Leinster and Ireland," said Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan. "The first year I coached Eric was at under-21 level, where he was hugely influential in Ireland winning their first Triple Crown at that level in 1996. As a testament to his skill and ability at that age, he became a Lion the following year when he toured South Africa.
"In recent years he has been unlucky with injuries, often sustained due to the committed nature in which he plays the game. I wish him every success in his future career plans."
Travelling in a different career direction, Munster centre Barry Murphy has been rewarded for some encouraging displays with the province with a call into O'Sullivan's senior squad. A try-scorer in Munster's 31-9 defeat of Sale Sharks over the weekend, Murphy has been promoted to the extended squad for this week's run into Ireland's first Six Nations match against Italy.
Murphy comes in to the Irish camp because of a calf injury sustained by Ireland and Leinster fullback Girvan Dempsey against Bath on Sunday.
In addition to Dempsey, 16 other players were unavailable for training yesterday as the Irish squad assembled in the Killiney Castle Hotel in South Dublin. Various bumps and knocks, all considered minor, forced O'Sullivan to cancel the first of his training sessions at St Gerard's School in Co Wicklow.
Commenting on the inclusion of Murphy, O'Sullivan said, "Barry has shown significant improvement with every game he has played this year with Munster."
Leinster also have some injury concerns. Blindside flanker Cameron Jowitt has a suspected fractured cheekbone following a clash of heads during a tackle with Bath prop Matt Stevens.
Also in trouble is try-scoring Leinster prop Will Green, and outhalf Felipe Contepomi. Contepomi has a slight knock, while Green has stitches over an eye wound.
FRANCE (squad for Six Nations) - Backs: J-B Elissalde, D Yachvili, F Michalak, B Boyet, Y Jauzion, F Fritz, L Valbon, C Heymans, C Dominici, N Brusque. Forwards: P de Villiers, S Marconnet, O Milloud, S Bruno, D Szarzewski, F Pelous (capt), J Thion, L Nallet, Y Nyanga, T Lievremont, R Martin, J Bonnaire.
FRANCE A - Backs: P Mignoni, N Durand, N Laharrague, D Skrela, D Marty, G Boussès, J-B Gobelet, P Bidabé, P Elhorga (Agen). Forwards: N Mas, J-B Poux, O Sourgens, B Kaiser, B Cabello, G Lamboley, J Pierre, A Marchois, I Harinordoquy, T Dusautoir, F Faure, G Le Corvec.
