Munster's Craig Casey to captain Ireland as Paul O'Connell names summer tour squad

The touring party will be led by Munster scrum-half Craig Casey who is set to become the 112th captain of Ireland. However, there is no place for stand-out Munster centre Tom Farrell. 

Craig Casey is set to become the 112th captain of Ireland. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Craig Casey will captain Ireland on this summer’s two-Test tour to Georgia and Portugal, leading a 32-player squad containing 11 uncapped players.

With 15 Ireland frontliners set to go on tour with Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions to Australia in July and August, and the retirements of recent Six Nations regulars and Test centurions Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony, this tour was always going to present an opportunity to bring fresh blood and add Test experience for squad regulars usually denied extensive gametime.