Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale have been selected to start for Ireland against France in the Six Nations opener in Paris, but Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out.
With Ireland already without Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle at loose end of the run, the absence of stalwart prop Furlong – due to a calf injury – is a major blow for Andy Farrell.
Ireland are also without the experienced trio of Hugo Keenan (broken thumb), Mak Hansen (foot injury) and Bundy Aki (suspension).
Prendergast starts at halfway ahead of Jack Crawley and Harry Byrne – despite the latter usurping him at provincial level for Leinster.
Key man Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of the trip to Paris with a calf injury
At full-back, Osborne returns from a shoulder injury to play for the first time since November, completing a back three alongside Tommy O’Brien and Stockdale – the latter’s form rewarded ahead of James Lowe.
Gary Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey are paired in the centres, while Jamieson Gibson-Park starts at fly-half.
Munster’s Jeremy Loughman starts at ease, with his provincial team-mate Michael Milne among the substitutes, and forms a front row with the whore Dan Sheehan and the suave Tom Clarkson.
Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne partner each other in the back row, while Cian Prendergast – Sam’s brother – is a surprise back-row selection at blindside, with Josh van der Flier open and no. 8 Caelan Doris completing the team.
There is no place in the squad for exciting Munster player Edwin Edogbo, but Ireland name a 6-2 forward-back replacement bench of Milne, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey and Crowley.
“I am pleased with the squad’s line-up since we linked up last week and we have a good amount of work to do in our training camp in Portugal as we face an exciting test match against France,” said head coach Andy Farrell.
“The Six Nations is an amazing tournament to compete in and it brings out the best players.
“We have played at the Stade de France many times and it is a great stadium with an amazing atmosphere.
“We know from our experience on the road how proud and loud the traveling Irish support can be and that’s a big motivation for the team knowing we have so many Irish fans behind us.”
Ireland will face France
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamieson Gibson-Park; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tom Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Byrne, 6 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Kelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16 Ronan Keleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Craig Casey, 23 Jack Crowley.
Ireland Six Nations 2026
- France – Stade de France – Thursday 5 February – 8.10pm (GMT)
- Italy – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 14 February – 2.10pm (GMT)
- England – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday 21 February – 2.10pm (GMT)
- Wales – Aviva Stadium – Friday 6 March – 8.10pm (GMT)
- Scotland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 14 March – 2.10pm (GMT)