Ireland open their November campaign against Argentina on Friday, 6 November

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell doesn't do surprises very often - squad announcements since RWC 2023 have tended to be the roll over of familiar faces.

This has seen the green-rinse brigade dominate with thirty-somethings such as Stuart McCloskey, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier still welded to the first team.

There are few surprises in the latest November mix, Leinster dominating with 17 despite Jack Conan and Caelan Doris being on the injured list, Ulster and Connacht accounting for a collective further 17 and Munster down to two.

There are two completely new faces, both from Ulster which means neither will be tested at champions Cup level this season.

Back-row James McNabney is 23 year-old who has made 23 appearances since signing for Ulster from City of Armagh in 2023; used as a no6 initially he has been deployed at no8 as well.

Jamie Benson is a London-born former England U20s and Harlequins utility back who signed for Ulster at the start of the season and has played three games. He is thought to have been brought in here as out-half cover.

Meanwhile, there will be disappointment across a number of provinces where, for instance, Munster's entire back-row contingent has been left out and this includes Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson, Jack O'Donoghue and Sean Edogbo.

There is corresponding good news for the Connacht pack, however, as five make the grade Billy Bohan, Sam Illo, Darragh Murrray, Sean Jansen and Cian Prendergast - with the likelihood one of the last two named will start at no8 against Argentina.

There were eight number players not considered due to injury and named as Jack Boyle, Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward.

Ireland open their November campaign against Argentina on Friday, 6 November (Kick-off 8.10pm), before welcoming Fiji to the Home of Irish Rugby on Saturday, 14 November (Kick-off 8.10pm).

Farrell’s side then go head-to-head with South Africa at a sold-out Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 21 November (Kick-off 4.40pm), with the Nations Championship Finals Weekend taking place a week later at the Allianz Stadium in London.

Ireland Squad - Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series:

(Club/Province/Caps)

Forwards (19):

Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(33)

Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(73)

Billy Bohan (Corinthians/Connacht)(1)

Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(16)

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(88)

Sam Illo (Buccaneers/Connacht)(1)

Sean Jansen (Connacht)(2)

Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(51)

Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(26)

James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster)*

Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)(3)

Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(24)

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(79)

Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(11)

James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(83)

Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(41)(captain)

Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(6)

Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(14)

Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(81)

Backs (17):

Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(72)

Rob Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(9)

Jamie Benson (Ulster)*

Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(30)

Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)(2)

Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Connacht)(15)

Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(53)

Mack Hansen (Connacht)(30)

Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(85)

Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(48)

Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(31)

Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(14)

Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)(9)

Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(17)

Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(17)

Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(76)

Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(43).

*denotes uncapped

• Friday, 6 November: Ireland v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, 8.10pm
• Saturday, 14 November: Ireland v Fiji, Aviva Stadium, 8.10pm
• Saturday, 21 November: Ireland v South Africa, Aviva Stadium, 4.40pm.

Tickets for Ireland’s clashes against Argentina and Fiji are now available on General Sale via Ticketmaster.ie. The Nations Championship is live on Virgin Media and ITV.