Andy Farrell names three uncapped players in 36-man Ireland squad

Uncapped Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen have been named in Andy Farrell’s 36-man Ireland squad for their Nations Championship campaign in July.

The 20-year-old loosehead Bohan, who was called into the squad during the Guinness Six Nations, has found himself in the squad after Andrew Porter was ruled out of the three matches against Australia, Japan and the All Blacks.

Porter is not the only headline absentee in the squad, with Jack Crowley also ruled out after missing the tail end of Munster’s season with a leg injury. Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley are the two playmaking options in the squad.

New Zealand-born No.8 Jansen, meanwhile, has the opportunity to face the nation of his birth at Eden Park on July 18.

Another New Zealand-born international, James Lowe, will miss out on the opportunity following his departure from Irish rugby.

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“I’m pleased to announce the Ireland squad for the opening three rounds of the Nations Championship,” Farrell said. “This competition will bring the best of the northern hemisphere up against their southern counterparts and the road for that Sunday evening slot for Finals Weekend in London starts now.

“We have three tough Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand and it’s important that we hit the ground running in this new tournament.

“The experience of playing Down Under will be priceless for us and even though we’ll be playing in front of largely partisan home crowds, we are also excited about playing in front of a huge Irish support. Their dedication to the team never ceases to amaze us and with a huge diaspora Down Under I’m sure we can count on a large Irish following in Sydney, Newcastle and then on to Auckland.

“For us, we are aiming to build on our positive performances during the recent Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

“The non-Leinster contingent across the three Provinces have completed a three-day training block this week in the IRFU High Performance Centre ahead of our departure on Monday and it has given us the chance to look at the squad going forward. Congratulations to Billy, Sam and Sean on their selections and each of them has earned the right to be selected after their performances this season.

“Their selection, allied to an experienced majority who we hope to see perform strongly for Leinster in the BKT URC final on Friday night, will add great energy to the squad which we’ve been building over the last number of campaigns.”

Ireland squad
Forwards (20)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(70)
Billy Bohan (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(13)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(59)
Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(60)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(86)
Sam Illo (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(4)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)*
Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(48)
Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(8)
Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(24)
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)(3)
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(21)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(11)
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(80)
Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(39)
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(5)
Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(11)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(79)

Backs (16)
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(69)
Rob Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster)(4)
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(28)
Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)(1)
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(12)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(51)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) (84)
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(46)
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(28)
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(11)
Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)(9)
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(15)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(15)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(74)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(42)