Here is the latest Ireland Six Nations squad update as preparations continue for the side’s opening fixture against England in Dublin on Saturday.
Ireland’s match against England will kick off at 4:45pm on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium. The squad has been training in Portugal ahead of the weekend’s game.
In a major blow for stand-in head coach Simon Easterby, prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Saturday’s game.
The Leinster man aggravated an existing calf problem in training and has returned to Dublin for treatment. It’s hoped he won’t be out for long, but Ireland have said they will issue an update later this week.
Uncapped Connacht prop Jack Aungier has been called into the squad to replace Furlong this weekend.
Another Connacht man, scrum-half Caolin Blade linked up with the squad on Monday.
Also joining the camp are Leinster trio James Lowe, Jack Boyle, and Dan Sheehan. Boyle is in line for his first senior cap.
Munster coach Mike Prendergast has joined up with the senior squad this week, before he takes charge of Ireland ‘A’ in their game against England ‘A’ in Bristol.
Ireland Six Nations Squad:
Forwards:
Jack Aungier (Connacht, uncapped)*
Ryan Baird (Leinster, 23 caps)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht, 46 caps)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster, 56 caps)
Jack Boyle (Leinster, uncapped)*
Thomas Clarkson (Leinster, 2 caps)
Jack Conan (Leinster, 46 caps)
Caelan Doris (Leinster, 47 caps) [Captain]
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, 78 caps)
Cian Healy (Leinster, 134 caps)
Iain Henderson (Ulster, 84 caps)
Rob Herring (Ulster, 42 caps)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster, 1 cap)
Rónan Kelleher (Leinster, 37 caps)
Gus McCarthy (Leinster, 2 caps)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster, 16 caps)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster, 110 caps)
Andrew Porter (Leinster, 70 caps)
Cian Prendergast (Connacht, 4 caps)
James Ryan (Leinster, 67 caps)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster, 27 caps)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster, 68 caps)
Backs:
Bundee Aki (Connacht, 60 caps)
Caolin Blade (Connacht, 3 caps)
Jack Crowley (Munster, 19 caps)
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster, 8 caps)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster, 38 caps)
Mack Hansen (Connacht, 25 caps)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, 77 caps)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster, 42 caps)
James Lowe (Leinster, 36 caps)
Conor Murray (Munster, 120 caps)
Calvin Nash (Munster, 8 caps)
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster, 8 caps)
Jamie Osborne (Leinster, 5 caps)
Sam Prendergast (Leinster, 3 caps)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster, 63 caps)
Development Players (4):
Hugh Cooney (Leinster)*
Cathal Forde (Connacht)*
James McNabney (Ulster)*
Ben Murphy (Connacht)*
*Denotes uncapped player
With Ireland head coach Andy Farrell away on Lions duty, Ireland will be led by Simon Easterby.
The former Scarlets back row spent most of his career in Wales, but earned 65 caps for Ireland as well as two for the Lions in 2005.
Having worked as Ireland’s forwards and then defence coach since 2014, he now takes on the head coaching role while Farrell is away.
There is plenty of expectation on his and Ireland’s shoulders this weekend.
According to the best UK rugby betting sites, Ireland are 2/5 favourites to beat England on home soil. England, mean while, are 13/5 underdogs.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 4:45pm GMT and will be broadcast live to UK viewers on ITV1.
In Ireland, all Six Nations games will be shared between RTE and Virgin media.
