Andy Farrell has kept with the tried and tested after naming a very experienced squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.
There are few surprises in the 34-man group, which will be led by Munster’s Peter O’Mahony, who has been chosen ahead of James Ryan.
selection as captain sets the tone for Farrell’s squad, with the head coach not looking ahead to the next Rugby World Cup.
The Munster flanker will be 38 by the time of the 2027 World Cup, but head coach is thinking short-term with his squad.
He takes over from Johnny Sexton, who retired following their defeat to the All Blacks in the global tournament, as the national team skipper.
“To our new captain, Peter O’Mahony, he is a born leader and someone who has been an influential figure for Munster and Ireland for many years,” said.
“I am confident that the squad will continue to benefit from his leadership skills, both on and off the field. He is thoroughly deserving of this honour, and I know that he will relish working closely with the wider leadership group and squad over the coming campaign.
“I would like to congratulate him and his family at this special time.”
O’Mahony added: “Ever since I was a boy starting off in the game, I have always dreamed of captaining Ireland.
“I have been asked to lead Ireland on a number of occasions previously, and each of those 10 matches were special days. To be now asked to captain Ireland ahead of the is without doubt one of the proudest moments of my life, and I would like to thank Andy for this show of faith in me.
“We have a strong core of leaders who will all play a key role in driving the highest standards for the team over the coming weeks.
“Competition is red hot across the squad, and we’re all hugely motivated to work hard when we meet up next week ahead of the opening game in Marseille.”
Ireland are looking to defend the title they won in 2023, where they claimed the Grand Slam in an utterly dominant fashion.
Most of the players who featured in that triumph remain, with only Sexton, Kieran Treadwell and injured quartet Mack Hansen, Rob Herring, Ross Byrne and Jimmy O’Brien missing from the 23 that defeated England last March.
In fact, there are no uncapped players at all, although Oli Jager, Thomas Ahern and Sam Prendergast have been included outside the main 34 as ‘training panellists’.
Ahern can certainly feel frustrated not to be included in the squad, while Gavin Coombes, Cian Prendergast and John Hodnett are other notable omissions.
Forwards Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony (c), Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier
Backs: Bundee Aki, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale
