Ireland call up two second rows as Ryan and Baird ruled out

Ireland have confirmed that second rows James Ryan and Ryan Baird will play no further part in this year's Guinness Six Nations.

Ryan was taken off for a HIA after a high profile collision which saw England's Charlie Ewels red carded 82 seconds into their Six Nations Round 4 victory over England at the weekend. Meanwhile Baird, who didn't feature at the weekend, has been withdrawn due to a back complaint.

Andy Farrell had chosen to call up two uncapped locks; Leinster veteran Ross Moloney and rookie lock Joe McCarthy.

"James Ryan will not be considered for selection this week and his return to rugby protocols will be supervised by the Leinster Medical Team. Ryan Baird is ruled out of the final fixture the 2022 Guinness Six Nations with a back issue," said an IRFU statement.

"Uncapped locks Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy have been called up to train with the squad. Ross has been involved in Ireland squads since the summer of 2021 while Joe, a former Ireland U20 player, made his Leinster debut against Cardiff in January having impressed for Dublin University in the Energia AIL.

"Robert Baloucoune, Nick Timoney and Mike Lowry all return after lining out for Ulster in the URC against Leinster at the weekend."

Ireland play Scotland in the final round of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championship on Saturday 19thMarch at 4.45pm.

IRELAND SQUAD:

BACKS:

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 36 caps

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps

Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 31 caps

Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 30 caps

Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 16 caps

Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 caps

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 56 caps

James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 19 caps

James Lowe (Leinster) 11 caps

Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 95 caps

Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 104 caps CAPTAIN

FOWARDS:

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 22 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 29 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 26 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 16 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 56 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 115 caps

Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 67 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 25 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 47 caps

Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped

Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped

Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped

Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 83 caps

Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 6 caps

Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps

Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 4 caps

Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 39 caps