International
An Uncapped Irish XV
The depth of talent in Irish rugby is at its best ever. Barring a couple of standouts (Murray, Sexton, Furlong), every position has a player of equal ability ready to step in. This is an Irish XV made of some of
Loosehead Prop: Peter Dooley
The Offaly man was probably the one who benefited most from Andrew Porter’s switch to tighthead. Should have much more opportunities to show his ability and challenge Cian Healy now that Jack Mac’s move north has been finalised.
Hooker: Rhys Marshall
Embed from Getty ImagesA residency pick; Marshall is Irish qualified in this year. Has all the standard hooker skills, plus a cultured boot and surprising pace. Adam McBurney and Ronan Kelleher are two other young promising players that need more provincial gametime.
Tighthead Prop: Tom O’Toole
Tom O’Toole is a beast. Only 20 years old but is a certain Irish international in the future. A monstrous scrummager for a guy so inexperienced
Embed from Getty ImagesSecond Row: Fineen Wycherley
The man from west Cork is still very young but is making his presence but he doesnt let it hold him back, having already made 6 appearances for Munster
Embed from Getty ImagesSecond Row: Ross Molony
Embed from Getty ImagesThought of by many as Leo Cullen 2.0, the Leinster man is already a leader in the pack, and has captained his province several times.
Blindside: Caelan Doris
Embed from Getty ImagesThe latest product of Leinster’s never ending back row supply, the Mayo man is a number 8 by trade,
Openside: Nick Timoney
Embed from Getty ImagesAn all rounder in the back row for Ulster, the former Sevens player is one of the fastest forwards in the country.
Number 8: Max Deegan
Embed from Getty ImagesAn Ireland cap is surely not far away for Max Deegan. Formerly U20 player of the year, Deegan has one of the most complete skill sets of any back row forward in the country, and will soon overtake Jack Conan if he continues on the way he is going.
Scrum-half: Caolin Blade
https://gty.im/1132052023The Connacht 9 has a similar style to his teammate Kieran Marmion; both are small, fast, and lively threat around the ruck. Blade has taken more of a leadership role in Connacht this season, captaining the side for the first time in the last few weeks.
Out-Half: Billy Burns
Embed from Getty ImagesUlster’s new arrival, Burns hasn’t been setting the world alight like his teammate Will Addison, but he’s keeping Ulster ticking over well, and showing flashes of brilliance as he settled in more, some beautiful cross-kicks against Racing coming to mind. He may not be individually flashy, but he brings his teammates into the game well, and is forming a solid partnership with John Cooney.
Wing: Rob Lyttle
One thing they do well up north is a winger, and Lyttle is the latest example. Quick, decent in the air, and has a good step. Having played under two of Ireland’s greatest ever wingers at Ulster, and having one of the country’s best ever broken-field runners at his club will have done great things for his development. Has had his injury troubles but could be a star for Ulster within a few years.
Embed from Getty ImagesInside Centre: JJ Hanrahan
Embed from Getty ImagesGenerally deployed at 10 for Munster, the Kerryman spent a lot of his time at Northampton playing at first centre, and is very capable there, seeming to flourish when given less responsibility than the 10 jersey
Outside Centre: Tom Farrell
Embed from Getty ImagesFarrell has been outstanding for Connacht ever since he arrived, a constant source of go-forward in the Connacht backline. One of the players most deserving of an Ireland cap, but unlikely to get one barring an injury crisis.
Wing: Barry Daly
Embed from Getty ImagesDaly got his chance last season and grabbed it with both hands. Great in the air, and stronger than he looks, Daly’s claim to fame is he is the fastest player in the Leinster squad, and indeed in Irish rugby. Daly has not gone unnoticed by Joe Schmidt; he spent time in Ireland camp around the Six Nations ;ast year year
Full-Back: Michael Lowry
Embed from Getty ImagesLowry has been given some serious responsibility this season for Ulster. Injuries saw Will Addison move to outside centre, so Lowry got the nod for Ulster’s opening Champion’s Cup games. Lowry looked at home on the biggest stage in club rugby. Ulster’s answer to Jordan Larmour, the 20 year old is a livewire in attack, with dancing feet and speed. For a young player, he’s very composed, and is competent defensively for such an inexperienced player in what is probably the most important defensive position
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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