Some new faces to go with the guys that took us to the World Cup quarter finals before falling short.
Joe Schmidt was never going to radicalise his Ireland squad too much but his selections of in-form players and genuine prospects adds a frisson of excitement to the upcoming Six Nations campaign.
Nonetheless, the inclusion of Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier, Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey, Connacht lock Ultan Dillane and Munster captain CJ Stander are all included.
Ireland Squad for @rbs_6_nations 4 Uncapped: @Ultan_Dillane @CJStander @joshvdf & @Stuart_Mc12 #shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/mFd1EWrTpW
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 20, 2016
Ulster fans will also be delighted to see Andrew Trimble recalled to the fold and Luke Marshall named in the backs.
Schmidt’s squad announcement was made via an IRFU press release. The Kiwi will not speak directly to the media until the competition launch next Wednesday at the Hurlingham Club.
Captaincy
Schmidt has also named Ulster hooker Rory Best to captain his side during the championship.
The bulk of Schmidt’s squad will not assemble at Carton House until Sunday, January 31.
The first training session of the Six Nations campaign will be the following day, with team manager Mick Kearney and a senior player out to meet the press that afternoon.
Wales are first up, at the Aviva Stadium, on Sunday, February 7.
Ireland are hoping to be the first team to win the competition outright three times in a row since the competition began in 1883.
Full squad
Forwards
- Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain
- Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
- James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
- Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)*
- Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
- Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) Vice Captain
- Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
- Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
- Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
- Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
- CJ Stander (Munster)*
- Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
- Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)*
- Nathan White (Connacht)
Backs
- Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
- Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
- Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
- Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
- David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
- Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
- Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
- Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
- Stuart McCloskey (McCloskey/Ulster)*
- Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
- Jared Payne (Ulster)
- Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
- Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
