Ireland squad named for Six Nations

The Ireland coaching group have named a squad of 38 players for the opening two rounds of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship. Ulster’s Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Jordi Murphy, John Cooney, Will Addison and Jacob Stockdale have all been named. Best will once again captain the squad. Joe Schmidt, Ireland Head Coach, said that Marty Moore, Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy and Stuart McCloskey were unlucky to miss out on selection after impressive performances for their Province. Schmidt commented: "It’s been great to watch the provincial teams doing so well in recent weeks and there have been a number of tight calls across almost every position. "In the front row, Finlay Bealham was very close, as was Marty Moore, who is getting back to the form that saw him win 10 caps in the past and Stephen Archer was at his combative best in Gloucester at the weekend. Rob Herring is very unlucky as his performances for the national team have been first rate. Denis Buckley has done well for Connacht and the promising young looseheads Ed Byrne and Eric O’Sullivan have continued to impress. "Quinn Roux was very close to selection in the second row, which has become highly competitive with youngsters Gav Thornbury, Fineen Wycherley and Kieran Treadwell all impressing of late, along with the experienced Billy Holland. "Even more competitive is the back row, where those selected could well be joined by Dan Leavy once he’s fully fit. Sean Reidy continues to be all action for Ulster and Tommy O’Donnell is starting to get back to top form as well after his recent return from injury. "Johnny Sexton is making good progress, while Joey Carbery and Jack Carty have both performed consistently well so far this season. Ross Byrne is unlucky in an incredibly tight call. He is still definitely in our thinking and will continue to press for inclusion through the Six Nations and beyond, while Billy Burns has also fitted in really well for Ulster this season. "Bundee Aki and a fresh and fully fit Robbie Henshaw squeeze out Rory Scannell, who was great for Munster last Friday, and Stu McCloskey, who continues to give Ulster gain line as well as defensive solidity." IRELAND SQUAD FOR 2019 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 1 & 2 Forwards (21) Rory Best (Ulster/Banbridge) 113 caps (c) Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 4 caps Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 11 caps Sean Cronin (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 65 caps Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 11 caps Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 28 caps Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 84 caps Iain Henderson (Ulster/Queens University) 42 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 24 caps Jack McGrath (Leinster/St Marys College) 53 caps Jordi Murphy (Ulster/Lansdowne) 26 caps Sean O’Brien (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 52 caps (vc) Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 21 caps James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 16 caps Niall Scannell (Munster/Dolphin) 11 caps CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 28 caps Devin Toner (Leinster/Lansdowne) 63 caps Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps Backs (17) Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 3 caps Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 12 caps Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) 0 caps Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 16 caps Jack Carty (Connacht/Buccaneers) 0 caps Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 10 caps John Cooney (Ulster/Terenure College) 4 caps Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 72 caps Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 3 caps Tom Farrell (Connacht/TBC) 0 caps Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 36 caps Rob Kearney (Leinster/UCD) 87 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 67 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 17 caps Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Marys College) 78 caps (vc) Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 14 caps Ireland host England on the opening weekend of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations before heading to Murrayfield to face Scotland. In Round 3 Ireland face Italy in Rome on Sunday 24th February before hosting France on Sunday 10th March at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland's final fixture of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations will take place in Cardiff on Saturday 16th March.