Two rookies make Ireland cut
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ireland coaching group have selected a squad of 36 players for the upcoming Six Nations Championships.
Jonathan Sexton captains the squad for a second Six Nations campaign and there are two uncapped players named in the squad – Munster’s Craig Casey and Ulster’s Tom O’Toole.
Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong makes the cut despite his lengthy injury lay-off.
However, there is no room for Ulster back Jacob Stockdale, who misses out through injury.
Ireland has just two fixtures in Dublin in the Six Nations – hosting France in Round Two and England on the final weekend of the Championship.
In Round One Ireland will take on Wayne Pivac’s Wales at the Principality Stadium.
Ireland’s first two fixtures of the 2021 Championships against Wales and France will both take place on Sunday afternoons.
Ireland’s third-round fixture is at the Stadio Olimpico against Italy and in the penultimate round Ireland face Scotland at Murrayfield.
“Since the year-end international window the club season has had a good few disruptions and the cancellation of the European fixtures means there have been fewer opportunities for players to show form or to return from injury and get some minutes under their belts,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell said.
“Tadhg [Furlong] hasn’t played in quite a while, but he is ready to join the group.
“Unfortunately Jacob [Stockdale] will not be available to us.”
Ireland squad
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians), Billy Burns (Ulster), Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD), Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon), Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen), Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Con), Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster), Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers), Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD), Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor), Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen), Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College – captain).
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne), Will Connors (Leinster/UCD), Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College), Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf), Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf), Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers), Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy), Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians), Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution), Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Banbridge), Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD), Quinn Roux (Connacht/Galwegians), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary’s College), James Ryan (Leinster/UCD), CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon), Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD).
