Sport

Izuchukwu and Prendergast earn Autumn Nations Series call-up by Farrell

Ireland senior men's team head coach Andy Farrell. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland's panel for the Autumn Nations Series was selected by Irish head coach Andy Farrell this week, and two uncapped senior players have been chosen for the games this November.

Cormac Izuchukwu and Sam Prendergast, both of whom were selected for last month's Emerging Ireland tour in Bloemfontein, are among the 35- players selected and have been rewarded with call-ups.

Uncapped players Thomas Clarkson, Alex Kendellen, Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle, and Gus McCarthy have also been included in the squad, but are training panellists to "increase their exposure to the National Team environment."

Leinster's Caelan Doris will captain the squad for the upcoming tests. Former Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony is also included in the extended panel and will continue his rehabilitation before Ireland's first game against New Zealand on November 8.

Our 35-player Ireland squad for the Autumn Nations Series, captained by Caelan Doris! 👊#TeamOfUs

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 23, 2024

The Ireland squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre next Monday before departing for a warm-weather training camp in Portugal to prepare for the opening game against New Zealand on Friday, November 8.

Ireland then faces high-flying Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, November 15, followed by Fiji on Saturday, November 23. They will then take on Australia for Irish Rugby’s 150th Anniversary Test on Saturday, November 30 (kick-off 3:10 p.m.).

Andy Farrell, speaking after the announcement, said: “The Autumn Nations Series gives us the chance to play at home over four consecutive weekends, and with two Friday night games first up against New Zealand and Argentina, followed by Fiji and the IRFU’s 150th Anniversary Test against Australia, it promises to be a cracking atmosphere next month at a packed Aviva Stadium.”

All of these matches will be live on Virgin Media in the Republic of Ireland and TNT Sports in the United Kingdom.

IRELAND SQUAD

Forwards (19): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris (captain), Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier

Backs (16): Bundee Aki, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale

Training Panellists: Thomas Clarkson, Alex Kendellen, Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle, and Gus McCarthy