Joey Carbery not included as Andy Farrell names RWC training squad

The starting group will include four uncapped players in the Leinster pair of Jamie Osborne and Ciaran Frawley, Munster wing Calvin Nash and Ulster hooker Tom Stewart

TRAINING SQUAD NAMED: Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has announced a 42-player summer training squad. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

As ever when it comes to squad announcements, it is the names of those not on the list that catches the eye first, although Andy Farrell has pulled few surprises in selecting the 42 players who will get Ireland’s World Cup preparations underway next month.

The number itself is revealing. A 45-man roster was expected so the head coach’s preference to tighten the belt with his initial training panel is indicative in itself of the fact that there are probably very few places to scramble over in terms of the 33 he will bring to France in the autumn.