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 NOVEMBERÂ 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
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