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Six Nations 2025: Simon Easterby names first Ireland squad as stand-in head coach for Andy Farrell

Simon Easterby is interim head coach for Ireland's Six Nations defence while Andy Farrell leads the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer; uncapped Jack Boyle included in 36-player squad; Ireland begin their campaign at home against England on February 1

Simon Easterby will take interim charge of the Ireland men's team from December 2024
Image: Simon Easterby is in chrage of Ireland on an interim basis while Andy Farrell leads the British and Irish Lions this summer

Interim head coach Simon Easterby has named his first squad as he takes charge of Ireland's Six Nations defence while Andy Farrell leads the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer.

Uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle is included in the 36-player squad, replacing the suspended Tom O'Toole, who is
unavailable for his country's first two games of the tournament due to suspension following a red card for Ulster against Munster.

Injured wing due James Lowe and hooker Dan Sheehan have been selected "subject to their successful return from injury", the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] has said.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell
Image: Andy Farrell has taken Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles but will not lead the side in 2025

Sheehan has been out with a damaged ACL since last summer's tour to South Africa, while Lowe sustained a calf issue during the the 22-19 win over Australia on November 30.

Versatile back Jimmy O'Brien and back-rower Jack Conan also return after injuries.

The 22-year-old Boyle's call up comes having been a development player in Ireland's Autumn Internationals squad in November.

Dublin , Ireland - 23 December 2024; Jack Boyle during a Leinster Rugby squad training session at UCD in Dublin. (Photo By Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Image: Uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle has been included in Ireland's 36-player squad for the Six Nations

Connacht's Caolin Blade is selected as third-choice scrum-half behind Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray due to Craig Casey's knee injury.

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Centre Stuart McCloskey, who has a hamstring problem, Ulster team-mates Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney and Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan are the other players omitted from the last squad selected by Farrell.

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 the Six Nations.

The uncapped quartet are set to link up with the Ireland squad at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday and travel to the pre-tournament training camp in Portugal.

Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign at home against England on February 1. Steve Borthwick's side prevented Ireland from securing the Grand Slam last year, with a 23-22 triumph at Twickenham.

Image: England beat Ireland 23-22 in last year's Six Nations to deny their opponents the Grand Slam

Looking ahead to Ireland's bid for a third successive Six Nations, Easterby said: "There's great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this year's tournament.

"Personally, 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."

Ireland's 36-player Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

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

Six Nations 2025 fixtures: Ireland

  • February 1: England (h)
  • February 9: Scotland (a)
  • February 22: Wales (a)
  • March 8: France (h)
  • March 15: Italy (a)