Farrell names Ireland squad for November Tests
Jamie Benson and James McNabney receive their first senior call-ups as Dan Sheehan is named captain for the Nations Championship.
Andy Farrell has named two uncapped players in his 36-man Ireland squad for November’s Nations Championship fixtures, with Ulster duo Jamie Benson and James McNabney earning their first senior call-ups.
Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland for the three home matches against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.
The squad also includes the returning Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien, while scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park
is included.
Ireland begin their November campaign against Argentina on Friday, 6 November, before facing Fiji and South Africa on successive
Saturdays. The Nations Championship Finals Weekend follows at Allianz Stadium in London.
First senior call-ups for Ulster duo
Benson and McNabney are the only uncapped players in Farrell’s squad, with their selection bringing Ulster’s representation to nine players.
Benson gives Farrell another option at out-half, while McNabney joins a back row that includes Ryan Baird, Cian Prendergast, Sean Jansen,
Nick Timoney and Josh van der Flier.
McNabney’s call-up is a welcome development for the back-row forward after he missed the whole of last season with an ACL injury.
Jamie Benson and James McNabney are the two uncapped players
included in Andy Farrell’s 36-man squad.
Gibson-Park included as four return
The inclusion of Gibson-Park will be a boost for Ireland, with the Leinster scrum-half joined by Craig Casey and Nathan Doak among the
number nine options.
Porter, Baird, Hansen and Tommy O’Brien return to the squad after missing the summer tour.
Six players from that tour are absent: Jack Conan, Jeremy Loughman, Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward, Zac Ward and Harry Byrne. Conan,
Bryn Ward and Byrne are among the players who were not considered because of injury.
Jack Boyle, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy and Calvin Nash were also unavailable through injury.
Ireland squad by province
Leinster provide half of the squad, with all four provinces represented.
Leinster
 17 PLAYERS
Ryan Baird, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong,Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Andrew Porter, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (captain), Josh van der Flier.
Ulster
 9 PLAYERS
Robert Baloucoune, Jamie Benson*, Nathan Doak, Stuart McCloskey,
James McNabney*, Tom O’Toole, Tom Stewart, Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney.
Connacht
 8 PLAYERS
Bundee Aki, Billy Bohan, Mack Hansen, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen,
Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast, Ciarán Frawley,
Munster
 2 PLAYERS
Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey.
* Uncapped player.
Ireland’s November fixtures
All three matches take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Kick-off times are Irish time.
Tickets and TV: The South Africa fixture is sold
out. Tickets for the Argentina and Fiji matches are on general sale
through Ticketmaster. The Nations Championship will be broadcast
live on Virgin Media and ITV.
Ireland’s final match of the competition will take place at the Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London the following week.
