Ireland name 27-man squad as preparations start for England game

Andy Farrell has named a 27-man Ireland squad for this week’s fallow-week Guinness Six Nations camp in Dublin which includes a first training session that will be open to the public in two years. The Irish moved into second on the table with their 57-6 dismissal of numerically challenged Italy at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday and two players who appeared off the bench in that game – Craig Casey and James Hume – are among the eleven released back to their provinces ahead of this weekend’s United Rugby Championship matches.  

An IRFU statement read: “Eleven players have been released to their provinces in order to access match minutes in the URC this weekend – Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Molony (Leinster), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, Iain Henderson, James Hume and Nick Timoney (Ulster).  Ross Molony joined up with the squad late last week to provide additional second row cover.”

As for injuries coming out of the nine-try round three win, the squad update stated: “Robbie Henshaw will continue through the graduated return to play process this week. Andrew Porter’s training load will be managed following a rolled ankle.  Tom O’Toole is continuing his rehab at Ulster.

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“The Ireland squad commence preparations for the final two rounds of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and have retained 27 players for a two-day camp in Dublin which includes an open session in the Aviva Stadium.

“The ticketed event on Thursday will feature the Ireland squad and Richie Murphy’s Ireland U20s as the two sides are put through the paces at the Aviva Stadium. Due to Covid, the Ireland squad have not been in a position to host an open session during Andy Farrell’s tenure. Tickets are no longer available for this event.”

IRELAND MINI-CAMP SQUAD (27)
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 35 caps
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 21 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 28 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 30 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 25 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 29 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 15 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 55 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 15 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 114 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 55 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 24 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 46 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 10 caps
Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 94 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 82 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 103 caps CAPTAIN
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 5 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 4 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps

PLAYERS RELEASED FOR URC GAMES (11) 
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 66 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps