Extended Ireland Squad Announced
The Ireland coaching staff has named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against England Saxons.
There are two uncapped players named in the extended squad, Leinster back rower Jack Conan and Connacht prop Nathan White.
Ireland will host three ticketed open training sessions over the course of the RBS 6 Nations with the first taking place in the Aviva Stadium on Friday, January 30 and further open sessions scheduled for Galway and Belfast.
Ireland’s opening fixture of the Six Nations is against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday, February 7.
Philippe Saint Andre’s French side visit Dublin seven days later and Ireland then host England at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, March 1. Ireland’s two home games at the Aviva Stadium are sold out.
Ireland’s final two fixtures of the RBS 6 Nations are away to Wales on Saturday, March 14 and away to Scotland on Saturday, March 21.
Robin Copeland, David Kilcoyne, Luke Marshall, Donnacha Ryan and Andrew Trimble will remain with their provinces to continue their recovery or to gain game-time and may yet return for later Six Nations matches.
Among the longer-term injured group are Chris Henry, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Dan Tuohy and Damien Varley who are unavailable for selection.
The Ireland Wolfhounds, sponsored by Three, will face a strong England Saxons selection at Irish Independent Park, Cork on Friday, January 30 with this fixture being broadcast live on RTÉ and Sky Sports. Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster.ie.
The Wolfhounds will be coached by Dan McFarland and Richie Murphy.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt explained: “The coaching group have tried to strike a balance between some players getting the chance to fully complete their rehabilitation programmes, or get a bit of rest and others getting the opportunity to push their claims with further game time in the Wolfhounds fixture.”
Extended IRELAND/IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS Squad:
Backs (21) –
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Forwards (25) –
Michael Bent (Leinster)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)
Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Nathan White (Galwegians/Connacht) *
* Denotes uncapped player