Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland through the November leg of the Nations Championship after Andy Farrell named a 36-man squad for three major Aviva Stadium fixtures.
Ireland will face Argentina, Fiji and world champions South Africa in Dublin as the inaugural competition heads to its Finals Weekend in London at the end of November.
The series will provide another significant run of international rugby at the Aviva Stadium, with the South Africa fixture already sold out and tickets still on general sale for the games against Argentina and Fiji.
For Vodafone, entering another high-profile international window as title sponsor of the Ireland team, the three fixtures will bring substantial broadcast and supporter exposure. Virgin Media Television will show all Nations Championship matches live in Ireland, with ITV carrying coverage in the UK.
Farrell has handed first senior call-ups to Ulster pair Jamie Benson and James McNabney, while Sheehan assumes the captaincy in Caelan Doris’s absence.
The Ireland squad is also notable for how many established players are unavailable due to injury.
Jack Boyle, Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Doris, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward were all ruled out of consideration.
This creates opportunities across the squad, with several relatively inexperienced players alongside a strong core of established internationals.
Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen continue developing at Test level in the forwards, while Nathan Doak, Rob Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien feature among the backs.
There is considerable experience around them.
Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier give Farrell a strong base in the pack, while Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park provide similar experience behind the scrum.
Ireland begin against Argentina on Friday, November 6 at 8.10 pm.
Fiji follow at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 14, also with an 8.10 pm kick-off.
The home programme concludes with the standout fixture against South Africa on Saturday, November 21 at 4.40 pm.
That game is already sold out and will once again underline the commercial appeal of Ireland versus South Africa, following a succession of major encounters between the countries in recent seasons.
The Nations Championship Finals Weekend will then take place a week later at Allianz Stadium in London, with Ireland’s Dublin results determining where they fit into the concluding matches.
Ireland Squad
Forwards: Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James McNabney, Darragh Murray, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (captain), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier.
Backs: Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Jamie Benson, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale.
Jamie Benson and James McNabney are the squad’s two uncapped players.
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Image Credit: South Dublin County Council
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