Simon Easterby names 36-Player Ireland squad for Six Nations

"Personally I’m hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge," said Easterby.

ON THE MEND: Dan Sheehan during a Leinster training session on Tuesday. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Conan

Dan Sheehan and James Lowe have been included in Simon Easterby’s Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations after overcoming injury as the interim head coach aims for a historic championship three-in-a-row.

First-choice hooker Sheehan is set for a comeback for Leinster this weekend from a serious knee injury sustained in last July’s first Test in South Africa against the Springboks while left wing Lowe’s last game was the Autumn Nations Series win over Australia in November with his return from a calf injury also set for the Champions Cup pool finale against Bath at Aviva Stadium.

Subject to successful returns for Leinster, the pair will fly with the rest of Easterby’s 36-player squad plus four development players for a warm-weather training camp in Portugal next week ahead of the February 1 opener at home to England.

Caelan Doris will once again captain Ireland in the championship campaign with fellow back-rower and 2024 title-winning skipper Peter O’Mahony also named.

The veteran Munster flanker is set to return from a month’s absence with a calf contusion in this Saturday’s pool clash at Northampton Saints.

Another returnee from injury is Leinster back-rower Jack Conan, who missed the November internationals with a hamstring injury and the No.8’s inclusion sees Ulster’s Nick Timoney omitted from Easterby’s squad along with Coonacht hooker Dave Heffernan, with autumn debutant and Leinster academy player Gus McCarthy elevated from uncapped training panellist in the last Test window to full squad member alongside senior provincial team-mates Sheehan and Kelleher following impressive performances in his first two international appearances a couple of months ago.

Among the backs scrum-half Craig Casey’s serious knee injury sees Connacht’s Caolin Blade recalled with fellow number nines Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray while Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley are the designated fly-halves.

Versatile Jimmy O’Brien also comes into the squad with centre Stuart McCloskey ruled out through injury while among the forwards, there are promotions for Leinster props Thomas Clarkson and the uncapped Jack Boyle. 

Both were training panellists in November with Clarkson earning a Test debut off the bench against Argentina and adding a second cap the following week against Fiji.

The props come in with Tom O’Toole set to serve the last two games of a six-game ban across the opening two rounds against England and away to Scotland the following weekend.

Easterby named Leinster centre Hugh Cooney, Ulster back row James McNabney and Connacht backs Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde as Development Players.

IN THE SQUAD: Ben Murphy after being named player of the match for Connacht recently. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

The uncapped quartet will join the Ireland squad at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday and travel to the pre-tournament camp at Quinta do Lago on Portugal’s Algarve.

With head coach Andy Farrell on sabbatical as takes charge of preparations for the British & Irish Lions’ summer tour and Test series in Australia, defence coach Easterby assumes ownership of the Ireland squad for the first time having led successful Emerging Ireland tours to South Africa in each of the last two autumns.

“The Guinness Six Nations is one of the most keenly-contested competitions in the global calendar and there’s great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this year’s tournament,” Easterby said. 

“Personally I’m hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge.

“One of the highlights from the recent Autumn Nations Series was the emergence of a number of new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast.

"We are also delighted to welcome back a number of players who were unavailable for the recent Autumn Nations Series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel.

“While there is a good sense of continuity in selection, having those players back massively increases our competitiveness. It’s also a great opportunity for three young Development Players – James, Ben and Cathal – to continue their recent good run of form for their Provinces and continue their development.

“The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and there’s no room for building or easing your way into competition.

"Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyone’s mind to what will be a big task ahead.”