Cormac Izuchukwu and Harry Byrne miss out as Andy Farrell names squad for matches against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa

Ireland squad

Hookers: Sheehan (capt), Kelleher, Stewart

Props: Porter, O’Toole, Bohan, Furlong, Clarkson, Illo

Locks: Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Murray

Backrow: Baird, Cian Prendergast, Van der Flier, Jansen, Timoney, McNabney

Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Casey, Doak

Outhalves: Sam Prendergast, Frawley, Benson

Centres: Aki, Henshaw, McCloskey, Ringrose

Outside backs: Hansen, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Baloucoune, Stockdale, Keenan, Osborne

From Gerry Thornley:

There are no real hard luck stories among the 17 backs chosen in this squad, which also has a very familiar look to it save for the uncapped Benson.

Despite Fintan Gunne’s growth this season at Leinster, Matt Devine’s positive impact since joining Ulster and the resurgence at Caolin Blade and Colm O’Reilly at Connacht, they haven’t done enough to force their win into the senior squad and must hope opportunity knocks for them in the ‘A’ game against Fiji ‘A’ in Cork on Friday, November 20th.

At outhalf, Joey Carbery’s delayed return to Leinster colours until last week’s cameo in Clermont also means he has ground to make up, and though this window is now a big opportunity for Benson, his selection also demonstrates that there is still an opening there.

The midfield quartet of Thirtysomethings has a distinctly tried and tested look to it but the four of them are also there on merit and have looked in good nick, not least the 36-year-old Bundee Aki. It would be absolutely no surprise if, barring injury, the four of them are not at the World Cup in a year’s time.

Similarly, the seven outside backs picked themselves, and despite the departure of James Lowe to Japan, this area also has a competitive and healthy (touch wood) look to it. Long may it last.

More from Gerry Thornley:

As ever in these squads, where there are winners, there also have to be losers. This is all the more so given Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen are all returning to the Irish squad after protracted absences and having last played Test rugby in the concluding November Test of last year against South Africa.

Porter’s return has resulted in Jeremy Loughman missing out on the squad altogether despite having started three of Ireland’s games in last season’s Six Nations against France, Italy and England, as well as playing as a replacement last summer against Australia and New Zealand.

This is, of course, also testimony to the way the 20-year-old Billy Bohan has grasped his chance with Connacht and Ireland, having made his Test debut against Japan last July.

Similarly, with Sam Illo retained, there is again no place for his provincial team-mate Finlay Bealham.

In light of Baird’s return, the most notable casualty from last summer’s squad for the southern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship is Cormac Izuchukwu, who made his Ireland debut in the Six Nations against Italy and played against Japan in July. But whereas McNabney makes the cut, Izuckukwu misses out, as does Tom Ahern and Edwin Edogbo, who has yet to feature for Munster this season due to injury.

From Gerry Thornley:

With injuries having forced their hands to some extent, Andy Farrell and his assistant coaches have picked a 36-man squad along largely anticipated lines.

In particular, the loss of Jack Conan to a shoulder injury sustained in the act of scoring a superb try for Leinster against Clermont last Saturday compounded the absence of Caelan Doris, as well as Bryn Ward, opened the door and through it has stepped James McNabney.

Similarly at outhalf, injuries to Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne, which has restricted him to just 30 minutes rugby this season also opened the door at outhalf. Through this door has stepped Ulster’s new Irish-qualified ex-England Under-18s and Under-20s outhalf Jamie Benson.

Farrell and co like McNabney’s size and physicality. Capped 14 times at Under-20s level in the Irish Grand Slam-winning sides of 2022 and 2023, his breakthrough into the Irish senior squad would probably have come sooner but for an ACL injury after being picked in the Irish squad for the 2025 summer tour and which sidelined him for all of last season.

Benson is a skilful, highly versatile player who has had played plenty of games for Harlequins at fullback and, as in his first three games for Ulster, in midfield, but two-thirds of his starts have been at outhalf, where he played in last Saturday’s Challenge Cup win away to Zebre.

The IRFU press release reports that several players were not considered due to injury, including Jack Boyle, Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward.

The team has been announced!

Ireland squad

Hookers: Sheehan (capt), Kelleher, Stewart

Props: Porter, O’Toole, Bohan, Furlong, Clarkson, Illo

Locks: Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Murray

Backrow: Baird, Cian Prendergast, Van der Flier, Jansen, Timoney, McNabney

Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Casey, Doak

Outhalves: Sam Prendergast, Frawley, Benson

Centres: Aki, Henshaw, McCloskey, Ringrose

Outside backs: Hansen, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Baloucoune, Stockdale, Keenan, Osborne

Dan Sheehan captains the side as Mack Hansen, Ryan Baird and Andrew Porter return. Jamie Benson and James McNabney are two uncapped players selected for the first time.

Six players from the summer tour aren’t included – Jack Conan, Jeremy Loughman, Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward, Zac Ward and Harry Byrne.

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From Gerry Thornley: Despite James Lowe’s departure to Japan, Hansen’s return makes the stock of outside backs look relatively healthy. Tommy O’Brien is also back after being withdrawn from the summer expedition due to the hamstring injury he picked up in Leinster’s URC final win over the Bulls.

Jimmy O’Brien has carried on his end-of-season form with Leinster which earned him a starting place in all three summer Tests, while Jacob Stockdale and Robert Baloucoune are also in good form for Ulster, as is Hugo Keenan with Leinster.

The official squad announcement is expected about 3pm.

Some Ireland XV news from John O’Sullivan:

The IRFU has confirmed that an Ireland XV will take on Fiji ‘A’ at Virgin Media Park on Friday, November 20th (7.45pm) in a double-header along with the Ireland Under-20 taking on their Scotland counterparts (5pm). It is the first of three outings for the Ireland XV this season.

The Ireland XV will be coached by Mark Sexton (Ulster) who will be assisted by Jimmy Duffy (Munster), Jared Payne (Munster) and IRFU performance pathway scrum coach, Seamus Toomey. The game takes place the night before Ireland’s Nations Championship clash with South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.

The fixture will form part of an important series of matches throughout the upcoming campaign for Ireland XV, with a renewed focus on developing emerging talent and providing players of national interest with valuable match minutes in green and exposure to a national team environment.

From Gerry Thornley: Sam Prendergast’s form and Ciarán Frawley’s impressive start to life at Connacht is timely in the absence of Jack Crowley, but there could be surprise third choice at outhalf given Harry Byrne has only played 30 minutes of rugby this season due to a recent concussion, while Joey Carbery only returned from a lengthy absence last Saturday.

Jamie Benson is a product of the Harlequins academy and has played for the England Under-18s and Under-20s, but is Irish-qualified through his mother, who grew up in Belfast. The 24-year-old is highly versatile, having played at outhalf, centre and fullback for ‘Quins, with two-thirds of his starts coming at 10. After three games in the Ulster midfield following his summer move, he made his first start at outhalf in last week’s win away to Zebre. He looks a real dark horse for inclusion.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will name his squad to face Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in the Nations Championship on Wednesday afternoon, expected about 3pm. Captain Caelan Doris will miss the series with a foot injury, but Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen are expected to be back after significant injuries themselves.

Ireland will play three games at the Aviva, against Argentina (November 6th), Fiji (November 14th) and South Africa (November 21st), before a concluding playoff at Twickenham on the last weekend of the month.