Rugby-Stewart given first Irish start amid injury worries at hooker

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Ireland Captain's Run - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - August 18, 2023 Ireland's Tom Stewart during the captain's run REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's Tom Stewart will make his first international start in their final World Cup warm-up game against Samoa on Saturday as the Six Nations champions sweat over the fitness of first choice hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher.

Sheehan hobbled off with a foot injury in last weekend's 29-10 win over England, while Leinster team mate Kelleher has not featured in any of the warm-up games due to a hamstring problem.