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Two Lions miss 34-man Ireland autumn squad with ABs and Boks waiting
By Josh Raisey
Caelan Doris will return from his shoulder injury to captain Ireland for the Autumn Nations Series after being selected in Andy Farrell’s 34-man squad.
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The No.8 was forced to miss the victorious British and Irish Lions series with the injury, but will lead his country for their four matches in November despite not featuring so far this season.
Two Lions, Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy, have missed out on the squad through injury though, as well as Munster wing Calvin Nash and Ulster lock Cormac Izuchukwu, who picked up a foot injury in the recent 28-7 victory over the Bulls. Nash, meanwhile, completed Munster’s contest against Edinburgh, but has since been ruled out.
Keenan had already been ruled out of the autumn, and possibly the rest of 2025, after undergoing an operation on his hip after the Lions series – a series clinched by his late try in the second Test. McCarthy, on the other hand, was touch-and-go to see whether he could overcome the foot injury sustained in the first Test against he Wallabies.
McCarthy’s younger brother, loosehead prop Paddy, has been included in the squad as the only uncapped player.
The uncapped pair of Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson, as well as the one-cap Shayne Bolton, will fly out to the United States for cover for their first Test.
Ireland face a challenging Autumn Nations Series, where they will face the two teams ranked above them in the World Rugby rankings.
Farrell’s side will get their campaign underway against the second-ranked All Blacks in Chicago – the location of their first-ever victory against them in 2016 – on November 1, before returning to Dublin to host Japan, Australia and the newly-crowned Rugby Championship winners, and reigning world champions, South Africa.
“I’m delighted to announce the squad for the four upcoming matches this November,” Farrell said.
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“There’s an exciting look to the panel and there’s an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal. The coaching team are looking forward to seeing all of the players take their opportunity over the coming weeks.
“This November’s Quilter Nations Series promises to be a great challenge. We’re playing four top quality southern hemisphere teams who are all coming off the back of a busy block of matches of late and they’ll be keen to finish their year strongly. First up is New Zealand and we’re really excited to get back to Chicago for the Gallagher Cup match. I’ve no doubt the Irish global supporter base will be out once again in force to cheer on the team in a brilliant city at a world-class arena.
“We’ve seen the strides Japan have made from their ever-improving domestic competition and how that has led to success on the field for the national team over the last number of years.
“The following weekend we welcome Australia, a side who we faced in a competitive 150th Anniversary match last November and who have made confident progressions since then through The British and Irish Lions Tour and into the Rugby Championship. We have great respect for them and the Springboks, who we face in the final Test match of the calendar year the following week.
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“We talk about it a lot but having a loud and vocal support at home in Aviva Stadium means everything to us. A strong Irish following can be such a positive point of difference and I know how excited each of the players are to represent their country. It promises to be a cracking few weeks of international rugby.”