Easterby names his first Ireland squad

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SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland interim coach Simon Easterby has named a 36-player squad for the forthcoming s Six Nations, captained by Caelan Doris.

Easterby, who is filling in for the sabbatical-taking British and Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell, takes the reins for the 2025 Championship and mid-year.

He has included one uncapped player in his panel as Leinster prop Jack Boyle is named in the squad having been a Development Player during Ireland's year-end series campaign last November.

Additionally, Easterby has called up Leinster's Hugh Cooney, Ulster back row James McNabney and Connacht duo Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde as Development Players for this Six Nations.

The uncapped quartet are set to link up with the Ireland squad at the Irish Rugby Football Union high performance centre on Monday and travel to the pre-tournament training camp in Portugal.

Subject to their successful return from injury with their respective provinces over the coming weeks, James Lowe and Dan Sheehan will link up with the Ireland squad in Portugal on Sunday week.

Ireland open their 2025 Championship against England at a sold-out Lansdowne Road on Saturday, February 1, before travelling to Edinburgh to face Scotland in Round Two on Sunday, February 9.

After a break week, Easterby's side are in Cardiff to go head-to-head with Wales on Saturday, February 22, followed by a showdown against France in Dublin on Saturday, March 8.

The Six Nations concludes with a trip to Rome on St Patrick's weekend, as Ireland faces Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, March 15.

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"The Six Nations is one of the most keenly-contested competitions in the global calendar and there's great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this year's tournament," Easterby said.

"I'm hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge.

"One of the highlights from the recent year-end series was the emergence of several new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast.

"We are also delighted to welcome back several players who were unavailable for the recent year-end series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel.

"While there is a good sense of continuity in selection, having those players back massively increases our competitiveness.

"It's also a great opportunity for three young Development Players - James, Ben and Cathal - to continue their recent good run of form for their Provinces and continue their development.

"The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and there's no room for building or easing your way into competition. Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyone's mind to what will be a big task ahead."

Ireland squad

Backs: Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose.

Development players: Hugh Cooney, Cathal Forde, James McNabney, Ben Murphy.