This secures the futures of four key players as Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell builds his squad towards Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

Bundee Aki

Connacht’s Aki has signed a new one-year contract extension. Leinster duo van der Flier and Gibson-Park have put pen to paper on two-year deals up until the end of the 2027/28 season. Sheehan has committed his future to Ireland and Leinster for a further three years until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.

Since making his debut against South Africa in 2017, Aki has been an influential figure in Ireland’s midfield, winning 69 Test caps in green, most recently coming off the bench in Saturday’s victory over Scotland.

Aki has won three Guinness Men’s Six Nations titles with Ireland, including two Grand Slams, and in 2023 was nominated for the World Rugby Men’s XVs Player of the Year award.

Josh van de Flier

Van der Flier won his 79th Test cap in green at the weekend, with his performances throughout the Championship campaign underlining his enduring worth in Ireland’s back row.

The 2022 World Rugby 15s Player of the Year remains a key part of Farrell’s side and will continue playing his rugby with Ireland and Leinster until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

Jamison Gibson-Park

Gibson-Park was one of Ireland’s outstanding performers throughout the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, most notably at Twickenham where his Player of the Match performance inspired Farrell’s side to a memorable bonus point win.

The scrum-half won his 50th Ireland cap against Wales earlier this month and news of his commitment to Ireland and Leinster for a further two years is a major boost.

Dan Sheehan

27-year-old Sheehan has established himself as one of the game’s leading players since breaking on to the international scene against Japan in 2021, winning 39 Ireland caps in that time.

On Saturday, the hooker scored his 15th Six Nations try in green and Sheehan is a central figure in Ireland’s pack.

Key leaders

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell said of today’s contract extensions:

“You cannot underestimate the outstanding contributions of these four players to Irish Rugby over many years. That they see their futures here is a significant boost, which I have no doubt will delight Ireland supporters around the world. They are all key leaders who put their bodies on the line time and time again in reaching the highest standards on the field.

“All four players are a pleasure to work with and have played key roles throughout the recent Guinness Men’s Six Nations. In congratulating Bundee, Jamison, Dan and Josh on their new contracts, we look forward to seeing them progress in Ireland in the months and years to come.”

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Opening half tries for Stockdale and Crowley, along with five-pointers from Conan and Osborne in the second half, saw Ireland claim their 60th win over Wales, in this the 137th meeting between the two countries.

Ireland score early

Ireland got on the board early with a try from Jacob Stockdale. The Lurgan winger crossed for the five-pointer with only five minutes on the clock. Touching down just marginally right of the right-hand post presented Jack Crowley with an easy conversion attempt, which he comfortably slotted over for a 7-0 Ireland lead.

Try Ireland!

Ireland on the front foot from the off and Jacob Stockdale has their first try of the night.

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Jack Conan thought he had scored his side’s second try of the night when beating two Welsh defenders to touch down in the 12th minute. Just as Crowley was about to kick the conversion, the referee Karl Dickson decided to consult with his TMO, Andrew Jackson. The decision was that front row Tom O’Toole had knocked the ball on at the back of the ruck, meaning the try was disallowed.

Edwards gets Wales on scoreboard

Dan Edwards had an easy effort to register the visitors’ first score of the game with a penalty kick from directly in front of the posts. The Ospreys’ kicker succeeded in reducing the deficit and brought his side to within four points of Ireland, with 17 minutes played.

Crowley touches down

Jack Crowley found himself in a two-on-one situation, played a dummy, and took the five points. The try, his fourth international try, pushed Ireland into a 12-3 lead. The Corkman missed the conversion which followed, however.

Try Ireland!

The home side back in control as Jack Crowley scores Ireland’s second try of the night.

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Wales close the gap

With the match clock past 40 minutes, Wales scored a try against the run of play. Front row, Rhys Carre of Saracens, showed quite a turn of foot for a prop, and scored despite the best efforts of Robert Baloucoune.

With Dan Edwards adding the extras, Ireland only took a two-point advantage into the dressing room at the break, leading 12-10

Ireland dominated the possession with 65%, the territory with 60%, made 93% of their tackles and covered 286 metres in the first half but will have felt disappointed heading to the dressing room at half-time with just a slender two-point lead.

Half-time score: Ireland 12 Wales 10

Jack Conan touched down early in the second period. The referee, Karl Dickson, again checked the validity of this score with his TMO, Andrew Jackson.

Try Ireland!

Jack Conan was denied by the TMO in the first half, and nearly again here, but he has his try and Ireland lead 19-10.

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Conan Try

It took some time for the English referee to decide to award the score, but to the delight of the fans behind the posts, Conan’s try was confirmed. Crowley successfully kicked his second of three conversion attempts by that stage of the game, as Ireland moved into a 19-10 lead.

Wales hit back through Cardiff Rugby’s James Botham. The grandson of former England cricketer, Ian, the flanker crashed over left of the Irish posts following a period of relentless pressure from the visitors.

Try Wales!

Relentless pressure on the Irish line and eventually James Botham makes it count – Ireland lead by two points.

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Dan Edwards added another conversion for the night to bring his side to within two points of the hosts. It was 19-17 with 16 minutes remaining on the stadium clock.

This seemed to be the warning Ireland required. Pressure from the hosts eventually saw fullback Jamie Osborne claim his fifth international try.

Try Ireland!

Jamie Osborne with a huge score in Dublin as they try and see off this stiff Welsh challenge. Bonus point secured.

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Despite a relatively easy conversion effort, Crowley missed his second kick at goals, as Ireland took a 24-17 advantage into the final 11 minutes of this Guinness Six Nations fixture.

Jack Crowley’s late penalty put Ireland’s supporters and management at ease as his score pushed Andy Farrell’s side to a 27-17 win.

Final score: Ireland 27  Wales 17 

The post Ireland claim 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Farrell Names Ireland Squad for Gallagher Cup and Quilter Nations Series

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Men’s Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for the Gallagher Cup clash against New Zealand in Chicago and the upcoming Quilter Nations Series at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ireland open their packed Autumn window with a Soldier Field rematch against New Zealand on Saturday, 1 November, before returning home to face Japan, Australia, and South Africa across three consecutive weekends in Dublin.

Doris to Captain Ireland

Caelan Doris will captain the side, while Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy earns his first call-up and could make his Test debut.

Connacht winger Shayne Bolton, who won his first cap against Portugal during the summer, joins uncapped Munster forwards Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson as travelling cover for the Chicago fixture.

Notable absentees include Hugo Keenan, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, and Cormac Izuchukwu, who were unavailable for selection through injury.

The squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday, 20 October, before flying to Chicago on Tuesday, 21 October.

Gallagher Cup and Quilter Nations Series Fixtures

The Gallagher Cup:
• Saturday, 1 November: Ireland v New Zealand – Soldier Field, Chicago (3.10pm local / 8.10pm Irish)

The Quilter Nations Series:
• Saturday, 8 November: Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (12.40pm)
• Saturday, 15 November: Ireland v Australia – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (8.10pm)
• Saturday, 22 November: Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (5.40pm)

Tickets for the Australia and South Africa matches are now sold out, with limited availability for the opener against Japan.

Farrell Excited by the Challenge Ahead

“There’s an exciting look to the panel and a great blend of experience and youth,” said Andy Farrell.
“We’ve got players returning from injury, others pushing through after strong summers, and now an opportunity for everyone to stake their claim heading into a massive year for Irish rugby.”

Farrell acknowledged the demanding nature of the November schedule, with four southern hemisphere opponents in succession, adding:

“New Zealand in Chicago will be special. It’s a city where we’ve had great memories before, and I’m sure the Irish fans in the US will turn out in force. Then it’s back to the Aviva for three world-class Tests in front of an incredible home crowd.”

Age Profile: Experience and Balance – but an Eye on 2027

The overall average age of Ireland’s 34-man squad is 27.1 years, with the forwards averaging 26.5 and the backs 27.6.

That blend gives Farrell’s team a balance of experience and physical peak heading into this Test window. However, looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, Ireland’s backline will be older than ideal. By then, stars like Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, and Jamison Gibson-Park will all be in their early to mid-30s, placing greater importance on the emergence of younger talents such as Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast.

Farrell and his coaching staff will be keen to see how those younger options handle top-tier opposition this autumn, as Ireland’s evolution towards the next World Cup cycle continues.

Broadcast Details

Gallagher Cup (v New Zealand): Virgin Media One (ROI) / TNT Sports (UK)
Quilter Nations Series: RTÉ (ROI) / TNT Sports (UK)

Ireland Squad – November 2025

Forwards (19):
Thomas Ahern, Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (captain), Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Rónan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, Paddy McCarthy*, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier.

Backs (15):
Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale.

*Denotes uncapped player

Average squad age: 27.1 years
Average forwards age: 26.5 years
Average backs age: 27.6 years

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As the 2025 Six Nations reaches its defining moment, the Player of the Championship race is intensifying ahead of this Saturday’s Ireland vs France showdown in Dublin. With Ireland potentially one win away from a Grand Slam, an Irish player could emerge as the frontrunner for individual honours, while France’s key stars will be determined to spoil the party.

Dupont Still Leads the Betting, But Irish Stars Are Closing In

Despite missing the opening rounds due to his Sevens commitments, Antoine Dupont (4/9) remains the bookmakers’ favourite. The France scrum-half is a generational talent, and his return has given Les Bleus a major boost. If France win in Dublin, he will likely cement his claim to the award.

However, should Ireland claim the Grand Slam, it will be hard to overlook one of their key players for the honour.

Sam Prendergast’s Rise to Contention

Here's a video showcasing why Sam Prendergast is such an exciting Rugby Prospect!

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— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) January 22, 2025

Sam Prendergast (6/1) has quickly established himself as Ireland’s first-choice fly-half, overtaking Jack Crowley in the pecking order. The young Leinster playmaker has shown impressive game management and attacking creativity, though his tackling remains a slight weakness.

If he delivers a commanding performance against France and Ireland go on to win the Grand Slam, Prendergast could be the natural choice for Player of the Championship. The award has traditionally favoured players from the title-winning team, making his final two performances crucial.

Gibson-Park and Conan Also in the Running

Jamison Gibson-Park (7/2) has been instrumental in Ireland’s attacking tempo, his quick decision-making and sharp passing proving vital. A strong performance against Antoine Dupont could see him emerge as a major contender.

Meanwhile, Jack Conan (12/1) has been a rock in the Ireland pack. If he dominates the breakdown and carries strongly against France, his odds could shorten rapidly.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey: France’s Best Bet?

Outside of Dupont, Louis Bielle-Biarrey (7/2) has been one of France’s standout players. His pace and finishing ability have been crucial in keeping France’s title hopes alive. If he plays a starring role in Dublin, he could emerge as a dark horse for the award.

Grand Slam Could Decide It All

History suggests that if Ireland complete the Grand Slam, the Player of the Championship is likely to come from their squad. In 2018, Jacob Stockdale won the award after scoring a record-breaking seven tries in Ireland’s unbeaten campaign.

If Prendergast guides Ireland past France and then seals the Grand Slam against Italy, he could be impossible to ignore. But if France win on Saturday, Dupont’s grip on the award will only strengthen.

This weekend’s Ireland vs France clash isn’t just a title decider—it could determine the Six Nations Player of the Championship too.

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Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out of the final game of the Autumns Nations Series against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium this coming Sunday.

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