It doesn’t make much sense.
Paul O’Connell has named his Ireland rugby squad for the upcoming summer tour of Georgia and Portugal.
It is officially a 32-man squad, but is really 35, as once again Ireland have named a number of training panellists.
The addition of training panellists has, rightfully, been questioned in the past by fans.
Why not just have them as part of the main squad?
For Autumn Series squads and summer squads, it is a particularly questionable choice, given that the ‘training panellists’ have a very good shot at getting game time.
Last November, Gus McCarthy managed to force himself into the starting team to face Fiji, while Tom Clarkson also got game time.
The decision makes even less sense for the July games, as it is already quite an inexperienced squad, with 11 uncapped players in the main group.
The training panellists named are Ulstermen, Jude Postlethwaite, James McNabney, and Zac Ward.
Having been a training panellist during the Six Nations, McNabney will be expecting to see game time, and given that there are only two out-and-out centres named in the main squad, Postlethwaite will be looking for the same.
While fans are generally pleased with the selection, there is still confusion over the ‘training panellists’ call.
Crowley going while carrying that rib knock isn't ideal.
— Seamus Nolan (@SeamusNolan9) June 4, 2025
The training panellists thing is a laugh, all 3 played against the European champions yet aren't considered full panel members but someone like Smyth with about 5 games is a full squad member. Just daft logic
Forwards (18):
Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1)
Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)
Backs (14):
Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18)
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24)
Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19)
Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)*
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)*
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38)
Training Panellists:
James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
*denotes uncapped
Ireland Summer Tour Fixtures
Saturday, 5th July: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local time, 6pm Irish time). Tickets are available now from the Georgian Rugby Union – here.
Saturday, 12th July: Portugal v Ireland, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon (kick off 7pm local, same Irish time). Tickets are available now from the Portugal Rugby Union – here.
