Madden Boost For Scarlets

Llanelli's hopes of beating Perpignan in the Heineken Cup quarter-final have been given a lift with the news that Martyn Madden has recovered from a shoulder injury that had kept him sidelined since February.

After a request from the Wales management team for Madden to get some match practice, the three-times-capped Welsh international took part in a Premiership match last Friday for Caerphilly.

He came through unscathed and has now been named on the bench for Wales' RBS Six Nations match against Ireland

Madden has been a key figure in the recent success of Llanelli in the Heineken Cup.

In all, seven Llanelli players are included in the Wales squad that face Ireland in the RBS Six Nations Round 4 match at the Millennium Stadium on March 22.

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Llanelli's first choice outside-half Stephen Jones will made his second straight international start having recovered from a broken thumb.

The other Llanelli players selected for Wales against Ireland are, Dafydd Jones (flanker), Iestyn Thomas (front row) Mark Jones (wing), Dwayne Peel (replacement scrum-half), and Mathew Watkins, (replacement centre).

ercrugby.com will have full coverage of the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Llanelli and Perpignan on April 11. Click broadcast centre for details.