Lowe out as Ireland bring in six uncapped players ahead of Bok Test
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named a 37-man squad for their upcoming November Tests against world champions South Africa, Fiji and Australia in Dublin.
An additional panel of players has been named for the Ireland ‘A’ fixture against the All Blacks XV which takes place at the RDS Arena on Friday, November 4.
Ireland will play the Springboks for the first time in six years when Jacques Nienaber’s World Cup-winning side return to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 5.
Fiji also return to Dublin for the first time since 2017 on Saturday, November 12, while Ireland’s final game of the series is against Australia on Saturday, November 19.
Ireland last faced the Wallabies in the middle of 2018 where they secured a famous series victory.
The Ireland squad will be captained by Johnny Sexton and there are six uncapped players in the squad: Ciaran Frawley, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien and Cian Prendergast.
Frawley, Loughman, McCarthy, O’Brien and Prendergast featured for the Ireland XV that played against the Maori All Blacks during the July tour of New Zealand.
Prendergast, McCarthy, Robert Baloucoune and Calvin Nash were also part of the Emerging Ireland squad that played against the Griquas, Pumas and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein earlier this month.
Meanwhile, there are a few big names missing.
Wing James Lowe has not been included as he still recovering from a calf injury.
Iain Henderson, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway were also left out of the squad. Like Lowe, they have not featured for their provinces this season due to injury.
Lowe’s Leinster teammates Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park have also not played any URC rugby, but they have been included in the squad.
The Ireland ‘A’ panel includes Tom Ahern, Diarmuid Barron, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Max Deegan, Jamie Osborne, Scott Penny and Roman Salanoa from the Emerging Ireland squad as well as experienced front-row forwards Dave Kilcoyne and Marty Moore.
Players in the ‘A’ Panel will join the squad following Round Seven of the URC.
Ireland Squad:
Backs: Robert Baloucoune, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley (uncapped), Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Michael Lowry, Conor Murray, Stuart McCloskey, Calvin Nash (uncapped), Jimmy O’Brien (uncapped), Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton (captain), Jacob Stockdale.
Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris. Tadhg Furlong, Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman (uncapped), Joe McCarthy (uncapped), Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast (uncapped), James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell, Josh van der Flier.
Ireland ‘A’ Panel: Tom Ahern, Diarmuid Barron, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Max Deegan, James Hume, Dave Kilcoyne, Marty Moore, Jamie Osborne, Scott Penny, Roman Salanoa.
Additional sources: the42.ie & RTÉ
