Next cabs on the rank - Andy Farrell wants Ireland's fringe players to step up
Brian Gleeson of Munster scoring a try. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Andy Farrell has encouraged Ireland’s fringe players and Test hopefuls to stake their claims for inclusion in his 2026 Guinness Six Nations squad between now and the end of January.
Saturday evening’s 24-13 defeat to reigning world champions South Africa offered a reminder of the progress that still needs to be made ahead of the 2027 World Cup, when the core of the head coach’s first-choice side will be in or approaching their mid-thirties. As he assessed the way forward he challenged the likes of Munster forwards Brian Gleeson and Edwin Edogbo, both uncapped, and Ulster lock/flanker Cormac Izuchukwu to make strong returns from the injuries that caused them to miss Ireland’s November camp.
Back-rower Gleeson and lock Edogbo had been invited to train with Ireland ahead of the Autumn opener against New Zealand in Chicago but neither made the plane to the United States. Gleeson, 21, fractured an elbow in Munster’s URC derby victory over Leinster at Croke Park last month and underwent surgery while Edogbo, 22, failed a Head Injury Assessment at half-time in the same game.
Izuchukwu was not considered for Ireland selection after sustaining a foot injury in Ulster’s URC win over the Bulls in October but Farrell invited the 25-year-old into camp last week and is looking forward to all three players and more besides putting their best foot forward as the provinces head into the European pool stages across December and January.
“Yeah and Izzy’s going to be coming back and there's going to be more experience that has to be given to certain people if they show good form in the next nine weeks,” Farrell said, “so it's staying across all that.” Aside from Edogbo, Gleeson and Izuchukwu, the Ireland boss will casting a net over a big group of players with Ireland aspirations or ambitions of further caps.
A month in camp and no minutes added to the two caps he earned last summer, the Munster lock/flanker will be bursting at the seams to showcase his talents with a trip to English champions Bath and a first Champions Cup pool clash at Cork’s Pairc ui Chaoimh on the horizon following this Saturday’s top of the table URC meeting with the Stormers.
The Connacht wing scored two tries on his Ireland debut against Portugal during the summer and did enough on Ireland XV duty against Spain earlier this month to be called into Farrell’s Test camp ahead of Saturday’s clash with South Africa. Playing Challenge rather than Champions Cup rugby is not ideal for any of the Connacht and Ulster hopefuls but Bolton is on the radar.
Went into November looking to build on his impressive first four Test caps last season but has found himself overtaken in the loosehead prop pecking order by Leinster squad-mate Paddy McCarthy and was one of three players in the Ireland squad not to have any Test involvement during November. Scrummaging problems against South Africa may give Boyle encouragement there is a second bite of the cherry on offer if he can get sufficient game time with his province.
The Leinster fly-half was namechecked this month by head coach Farrell when he discussed his options at number 10 and since returning from a successful loan spell with Bristol, Byrne has impressed on URC duty, earning a start for Ireland XV in the big win over Spain earlier in the month, kicking eight conversions and providing two assists.
The Ulster centre was a tryscorer in the Ireland XV’s 61-24 victory over Spain in Leganes, taking another step forward for the U20s international after Ireland A recognition last season and a training role with the seniors during the summer. The jostling for a place in a future Irish midfield, beyond the current Aki-Henshaw-McCloskey-Ringrose rotation, is underway with the 23-year-old keen to make an impact.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
