Ireland forced to call up another rookie
INJURY UPDATE: Ireland has been forced into a nid-year series squad change – James Hume for Garry Ringrose – just two days after Andy Farrell unveiled his 37-strong squad to take on Japan and the United States in Dublin on the first two Saturdays of July.
The selection of Ringrose meant that he was the joint-most capped back selected in the squad, his 34 appearances only matched behind the scrum by Jacob Stockdale.
However, the midfielder’s frustratingly injury-hit season has now had a final sting in the tail as a shoulder problem will require an operation.
Ringrose first broke his jaw in the October renewal of the delayed 2020 Six Nations, suffering the injury in Dublin against Italy, and he missed some more time when that same jaw took an accidental bang from a Leinster teammate in the pre-Christmas European clash with Northampton.
Ringrose made it back to full fitness in time for the Guinness Six Nations but he pulled up lame after the round four win at Scotland and it was six weeks before he got on the pitch again back at Leinster.
His latest setback now ensures he isn’t available for any potential call-up should the Lions require midfield cover on their tour to South Africa, a trip where Warren Gatland chose Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw as his two centre picks from Ireland.
An IRFU statement read: “Garry Ringrose has been ruled out with a shoulder issue that requires a procedure.”
The injury to Ringrose and the inclusion of replacement Hume, a try-scorer in last September’s final of the 2019/20 PRO14, brings to twelve the number of uncapped players now in Farrell’s Ireland squad for the upcoming Aviva Stadium matches.
Hume joins Ulster colleagues Robert Baloucoune, Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney, Connacht’s Caolin Blade, Tom Daly and Paul Boyle, Leinster’s Harry Byrne, Peter Dooley and Ross Molony and Munster duo Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley in the squad.
Source: RugbyPass
