Ulster back row star Sean Reidy has been named in the Ireland squad for the first time and will travel to South Africa for the summer tour.
Joe Schmidt and his coaching team have rewarded Reidy for a fine season with his Province, during which he scored five tries in 23 outings.
The 27-year-old is one of eight Ulster players to be selected in a 32-man panel for the three Test series against the Springboks in June.
Forward duo Rory Best and Iain Henderson are included, along with the backline quintet of Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble.
Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt commented, "Touring South Africa will be arduous to say the least so we've attempted to prioritise players who are currently as close to full fitness as possible. In what is always a difficult balancing act, we've taken a long term view with a number of players who need a rest or will benefit from a full pre-season.”
Players unavailable for selection include Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo.
The squad will depart for South Africa on Sunday 5th June and will be based in Cape Town ahead of the 1st Test at DHL Newlands Stadium, before moving to Johannesburg for the 2nd Test at Emirates Airline Park. The 3rd and final Test will take place in Port Elizabeth at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
All three Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Visit www.ulsterrugby.com and Ulster Rugby’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for all the latest news, images and videos from Ireland’s tour of South Africa.
IRELAND SQUAD FOR 2016 SUMMER TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA
Forwards (18)
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Rory Best (Banbridge / Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians / Connacht)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf / Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University / Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch / Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf / Leinster)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians / Connacht)
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon / Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley / Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Backs (14)
Keith Earls (Young Munster / Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock / Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon / Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD / Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena / Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen / Munster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent / Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena / Ulster)
IRELAND SUMMER TOUR 2016 FIXTURES
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 11th June 2016
DHL Newlands Stadium, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 18th June 2016
Emirates Airline Park, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 25th June 2016
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
Joe Schmidt and his coaching team have rewarded Reidy for a fine season with his Province, during which he scored five tries in 23 outings.
The 27-year-old is one of eight Ulster players to be selected in a 32-man panel for the three Test series against the Springboks in June.
Forward duo Rory Best and Iain Henderson are included, along with the backline quintet of Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble.
Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt commented, "Touring South Africa will be arduous to say the least so we've attempted to prioritise players who are currently as close to full fitness as possible. In what is always a difficult balancing act, we've taken a long term view with a number of players who need a rest or will benefit from a full pre-season.”
Players unavailable for selection include Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo.
The squad will depart for South Africa on Sunday 5th June and will be based in Cape Town ahead of the 1st Test at DHL Newlands Stadium, before moving to Johannesburg for the 2nd Test at Emirates Airline Park. The 3rd and final Test will take place in Port Elizabeth at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
All three Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Visit www.ulsterrugby.com and Ulster Rugby’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for all the latest news, images and videos from Ireland’s tour of South Africa.
IRELAND SQUAD FOR 2016 SUMMER TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA
Forwards (18)
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Rory Best (Banbridge / Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians / Connacht)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf / Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University / Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch / Ulster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf / Leinster)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians / Connacht)
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon / Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley / Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Backs (14)
Keith Earls (Young Munster / Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock / Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon / Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD / Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena / Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen / Munster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent / Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena / Ulster)
IRELAND SUMMER TOUR 2016 FIXTURES
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 11th June 2016
DHL Newlands Stadium, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 18th June 2016
Emirates Airline Park, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
South Africa v Ireland
Saturday 25th June 2016
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, KO 17:00 (16:00 GMT)