Paul O’Connell was ruled out of Ireland’s tour of New Zealand on Thursday after failing to recover from a knee injury.

The respected British and Irish Lions second-rower had been battling to make the tour after undergoing rehabilitation on his knee but has failed to regain full fitness, a Ireland Rugby Football Union statement said.

Connacht forward Mike McCarthy had already been added to the squad as cover for O’Connell.

Ireland are due to arrive in New Zealand on Friday for their three-Test trip.

Ireland will meet the world champion All Blacks in Auckland on June 9, in Christchurch seven days later and then in Hamilton on June 23.

Ireland squad:

Forwards:

Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Mike Sherry (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Brett Wilkinson (Connacht)

Backs:

Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).