Ireland name 27-man squad as preparations start for England game

Andy Farrell has named a 27-man Ireland squad for this week’s fallow-week Guinness Six Nations camp in Dublin which includes a first training session that will be open to the public in two years. The Irish moved into second on the table with their 57-6 dismissal of numerically challenged Italy at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday and two players who appeared off the bench in that game - Craig Casey and James Hume - are among the eleven released back to their provinces ahead of this weekend’s United Rugby Championship matches.  

An IRFU statement read: “Eleven players have been released to their provinces in order to access match minutes in the URC this weekend - Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Molony (Leinster), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, Iain Henderson, James Hume and Nick Timoney (Ulster).  Ross Molony joined up with the squad late last week to provide additional second row cover.”

As for injuries coming out of the nine-try round three win, the squad update stated: “Robbie Henshaw will continue through the graduated return to play process this week. Andrew Porter’s training load will be managed following a rolled ankle.  Tom O’Toole is continuing his rehab at Ulster.

“The Ireland squad commence preparations for the final two rounds of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and have retained 27 players for a two-day camp in Dublin which includes an open session in the Aviva Stadium.

“The ticketed event on Thursday will feature the Ireland squad and Richie Murphy's Ireland U20s as the two sides are put through the paces at the Aviva Stadium. Due to Covid, the Ireland squad have not been in a position to host an open session during Andy Farrell's tenure. Tickets are no longer available for this event.”

IRELAND MINI-CAMP SQUAD (27)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 35 caps

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 21 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 28 caps

Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 30 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 25 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 29 caps

Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 15 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 55 caps

Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 15 caps

Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 114 caps

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 55 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 24 caps

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 46 caps

James Lowe (Leinster) 10 caps

Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 94 caps

Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 82 caps

Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps

Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps

James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 103 caps CAPTAIN

Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 5 caps

Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 4 caps

Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps

PLAYERS RELEASED FOR URC GAMES (11) 

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps

Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps

James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 66 caps

Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps

Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped

Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped

Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps