Here is the squad!
IRELAND’S SIX NATIONS SQUAD
* denotes uncapped player
Forwards (21): Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster)*, Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster).
Development players (4): Hugh Cooney (Leinster)*, Cathal Forde (Connacht)*, James McNabney (Ulster)*, Ben Murphy (Connacht)*.
So of those on the fringes, Jacob Stockdale, Tom O’Toole, Tom Ahern and Nathan Doak are some that could feel disappointed.
Some reaction from Simon Easterby:
“The Six Nations is one of the most keenly-contested competitions in the global calendar and there’s great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this year’s tournament. Personally I’m hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge.
“One of the highlights from the recent Autumn Nations Series was the emergence of a number of new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast. We are also delighted to welcome back a number of players who were unavailable for the recent Autumn Nations Series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel.
“While there is a good sense of continuity in selection, having those players back massively increases our competitiveness. It’s also a great opportunity for three young Development Players - James, Ben and Cathal - to continue their recent good run of form for their provinces and continue their development.
“The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and there’s no room for building or easing your way into competition. Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyone’s mind to what will be a big task ahead.”
The announcement is at 2pm:
Ireland v England Six Nations tickets are selling for up to €2,480 on resale websites, reported Gerry Thornley last week.
One website is selling more than 600 tickets for prices ranging from €700 for seats in the upper tiers to €2,481 each for lower tier seats. These tickets also range in batches from four to 20 for the Ireland v England game at the Aviva Stadium.
Tickets are never sold directly to the public but rather through clubs and provincial branches.
[ Ireland v England Six Nations tickets selling for up to €2,480 on resale websitesOpens in new window ]
Here are some of the squads of Ireland’s rivals:
Wales
Forwards
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), WillGriff John (Sale Sharks), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Thomas (Scarlets), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
Backs
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby), Dan Edwards* (Ospreys), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee* (Scarlets), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)
[ Warren Gatland names Wales squad for 2025 Six NationsOpens in new window ]
England
Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps), Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps), Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain, Jamie George (Saracens, 97 caps) – vice-captain, Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 2 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain, George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 1 cap), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps), Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap).
Backs
Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped), Elliot Daly (Saracens, 69 caps), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 2 caps), George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps).
[ Steve Borthwick backs ‘world-class’ Maro Itoje as England captainOpens in new window ]
Mack Hansen has been a big topic of conversation in recent weeks, and the debate over his punishment for publicly criticising referee Chris Busby and referees in general. Owen Doyle took a dim view of how the situation was handled. “Chris Busby. A good man, and now a significant loss to elite rugby refereeing.
“That issue has been botched from first to last. The player publicly castigated the performance of Busby and implied that Connacht were playing against 16 men. That was a step too far, coming alarmingly close to an accusation of cheating. For good measure, Hansen included other referees in his expletively-framed denunciation.”
[ Chris Busby resigning shows Mack Hansen issue has been botched from first to lastOpens in new window ]
Meanwhile, Gerry Thornley wrote in the Counter Ruck newsletter that the IRFU’s desire to “respect our game” regarding Mack Hansen seems somewhat selective. He says it was funny how unlike Connacht and Mack Hansen, no such fine was imposed on Leinster after Sexton’s three-week ban. If you want the best in rugby news and analysis every Friday, sign up to the Counter Ruck.
Mack Hansen is likely to be in the squad as his suspension conveniently just brings us up to the Six Nations, not affecting Ireland. Should he have been banned for longer?
A lot of attention will be on Sam Prendergast as his battle for the outhalf spot for Ireland with Jack Crowley. Prendergast has put in some fine performances for Leinster and Ireland at a young age already, and one of the best to do ever do it on this island - Ronan O’Gara - was singing his praises.
“Today I don’t think he missed a kick, did he?” said O’Gara after Prendergast’s 11-point contribution to Leinster’s victory over La Rochelle. “And none of them were easy. And [he] managed the game well. He has a huge future. You just have to go after a 20-year-old because you know he is 20 and I was 20 and playing in that position. What you feel as a 20-year-old, it’s not easy.
“So he won that game tonight, in terms of against me, because I didn’t get much change out of him,” said O’Gara with a wry chuckle.
[ Ronan O’Gara says Leinster’s Sam Prendergast has ‘a huge future’Opens in new window ]
The Six Nations fixtures for Ireland:
Saturday, February 1st
Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, 4.45pm
Saturday, February 9th
Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield, 3pm
Saturday, February 22nd
Wales v Ireland, Principality Stadium, 2.15pm
Saturday, March 8th
Ireland v France, Aviva Stadium, 2.15pm
Saturday, March 15th
Italy v Ireland, Stadio Olimpico, 2.15pm
Last year Ireland won the Six Nations, beat South Africa away but lost three times - to South Africa, New Zealand and England. The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan discussed the year for Irish rugby and what can improve:
Was 2024 a successful year for Irish rugby?
Check out John O’Sullivan’s preview piece as Craig Casey’s injury opens the door for a scrumhalf place, with three main contenders:
“Caolin Blade played a pivotal role as a replacement in Ireland’s second Test win against the Springboks in Durban in his general play and decision-making.
“Since the start of the season, the 30-year-old has played 11 games for Connacht but started only three. Ben Murphy (23) was in the run-on team for the first seven games in the United Rugby Championship, and eight overall, and has racked up seven tries in 10 matches.
“Ulster’s Nathan Doak (23), who was called up to South Africa when Casey picked up an injury in the first Test in Pretoria, has started eight of 11 matches – John Cooney has suffered a couple of injuries – including the last six straight.”
So, to whom does Easterby turn?
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s Six Nations squad announcement, where Simon Easterby will announce his first squad as interim boss for the annual tournament. Ireland’s campaign begins on February 1st when England visit the Aviva.
We will keep you up to date with all the news ahead of the tournament, the squad announcement later this afternoon and all the reaction to it in our live story below.
Gerry Thornley writes that Ireland’s historic Six Nations title bid will be bolstered by the return of key players. The news is that Dan Sheehan, who has been out since July with a knee injury sustained in the Test against South Africa, and James Lowe, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since Ireland’s final autumn Test against Australia on November 30th, are set to return.
Andy Farrell has left to work with the British and Irish Lions for the year so Easterby will step up to the plate, but don’t expect anything too different as the Irish side looks to win a third Six Nations in a row outright, becoming the first side to win three successive Six Nations titles.
