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Caelan Doris to lead Ireland as two uncapped rising stars make 35-man squad
By Josh Raisey
Caelan Doris has been named Ireland captain for the Autumn Nations Series, taking over from Peter O’Mahony, who has also been named in the squad.
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Former captain O’Mahony has been dealing with a hamstring injury this season, which cast his place in Andy Farrell’s squad into doubt. The 35-year-old is expected to return at some point in November, and has therefore been retained in the squad.
Like O’Mahony, hooker Ronan Kelleher has been included in the squad despite being ruled out of the opening Test next month after undergoing surgery on his ankle. The No 2 position has been an area of concern for Ireland with Dan Sheehan out long-term, with Connacht’s Dave Heffernan being the only fit option in the squad as it stands, although Rob Herring’s inclusion suggests he will be ready to play come November after overcoming a calf injury.
Farrell’s side will host the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia as they look to maintain their place at the vertex of the world rankings.
November will also mark the last month that Farrell will be with his squad before he switches his focus to the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and Simon Easterby takes charge of the squad.
The squad features two uncapped players – Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast, 21, and Ulster lock Cormac Izuchukwu, 24 – as well as five uncapped ‘Training Panellists’ (which Prendergast was part of last season) – Leinster’s Thomas Clarkson, Jack Boyle and Gus McCarthy, Munster’s Alex Kendellen and Connacht’s Shayne Bolton.
Though Doris has captained Ireland before, notably in the second Test victory over South Africa in July after O’Mahony’s benching, this is the first time the 26-year-old has been named squad captain at the beginning of a series.
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“It is an enormous honour to be named Ireland captain and I am excited about leading the squad into battle over the coming weeks,” Doris, the favourite to lead the British and Irish Lions next year, said after being named captain.
“I am very fortunate to have had so much support from my family and friends and many others along the way from Mayo to Blackrock and on to Leinster and Ireland.
“I am extremely proud to lead this squad and I know that there’s an experienced group of leaders who will work hard to achieve success in the weeks ahead. We have a special group of players and I am confident that there are bright days to come as we build up for four huge Tests at Aviva Stadium.”
Ireland squad
Forwards (19):
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(22)
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(42)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(52)
Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(43)(captain)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(78)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(131)
Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)(7)
Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(81)
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(40)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(33)
Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(12)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(107)
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(13)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(66)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(3)
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(64)
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(64)
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Backs (16):
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(57)
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(15)
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(16)
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(6)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(35)
Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(21)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(74)
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
James Lowe (Leinster)(33)
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(18)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(118)
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(8)
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(2)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(60)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(37)
Training Panellists (5):
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)*
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)*
* denotes uncapped player
