Ireland make a number of surprise, exciting inclusions in November squad

Joe Schmidt has named a host of young players in his Ireland squad for next month.

Ahead of a three Test spin against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, Ireland have named a sizeable squad with a mix of experienced heads and young guns. The four uncapped players in a 38-man squad are Bundee Aki, Adam Byrne, Chris Farrell and Darren Sweetnam. Ulster captain Rory Best has been, once again, asked to lead the side while there are nine other Lions - Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw - from this summer's tour to New Zealand. Jared Payne [migraine issues] is the only Lion to miss out but Ireland must also do without injury cases Josh van der Flier [ankle], Niall Scannell [thumb], Jamie Heaslip [back] and Garry Ringrose [shoulder]. IRELAND'S NOVEMBER ITINERARY

• South Africa, Saturday November 11 (Aviva Stadium)
• Fiji, Saturday November 18 (Aviva Stadium)
• Argentina, Saturday November 25 (Aviva Stadium)

While there is some serious talent missing out on the Guinness Series fun, Schmidt has selected an extremely strong squad, with several of the young players that toured America and Japan this summer making the cut.

IRELAND SQUAD

Forwards Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain104 caps Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 4 caps Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 10 caps Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 16 caps Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 70 caps Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 32 caps Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 1 cap Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 20 caps Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 41 caps Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 49 caps Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 40 caps Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 16 caps James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 9 caps CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 15 caps Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 50 caps James Tracey (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster) 2 caps Backs Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) uncapped Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster) uncapped Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 4 caps Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 3 caps Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) uncapped Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 29 caps Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 16 caps Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 76 caps Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 5 caps Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 16 caps Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/UIster) 1 cap Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 57 caps Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 66 caps Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 2 caps Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution/Munster) uncapped