Munster's veteran ex-England tighthead Kieran Brookes named in Ireland XV squad

RED TO GREEN: Kieran Brookes of Munster in action against Joe Heyes of Leicester Tigers during the pre-season fixture at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster’s 36-year old former England tighthead prop, Kieran Brookes, has been named in the Ireland XV squad that will take on Fiji A at Cork’s Virgin Media Park late next month.

The selection of Brookes is a major talking point given his age more than the fact that he won the last of his 16 senior caps with England a decade ago. A former Ireland underage player, his mother and maternal grandparents are Irish-born.

Brookes only joined Munster during the summer. It is his 12th port of call in a nomadic career that has now spanned clubs in three different countries. Jack Aungier, another tighthead, joined from Connacht in the off-season and has also been named in the XV squad.

Both have played a major part in a rejuvenated Munster front row and pack under Jimmy Duffy that has also benefited from the signing of South African hooker Marnus van der Merwe. All told, there are nine Munster players in the 28-man squad.

Munster provide five of ten players who have played Test rugby already while Brian Gleeson has been called up to senior camp before. Dan Kelly played XV’s against Spain last year, but Sean Edogbo and Say McCarthy earn deserved call-ups too.

TEST TIMES: England head coach Eddie Jones jokes with Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Kieran Brookes, Jack Nowell and Danny Care after a Six Nations game against Wales in 2016. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy captains the squad with Joey Carbery returning to an Ireland collective for the first time since falling out of favour with Andy Farrell four years ago.

Connacht’s rise is evident again with seven players selected, among them Dan Ryan who has played just three times for the province and Will Connors who made the move from Leinster in the off-season.

Cormac Izuchukwu will look to park his disappointment at missing out on the Nations Championship for now by impressing XV head coach Mark Sexton while the half-back pairing of Jack Murphy and Matthew Devine also received invites.

The Fiji game will be part of a double-header with the Ireland U20s who face Scotland on November 20.

“This is a hugely important fixture for players to put their hands up and try to break into the senior men's squad and everyone will be motivated to be switched on and ready to take the chance to deliver in an Irish jersey,” said Sexton.

Ireland XV squad:

Forwards (16): Tom Ahern (Munster); Jack Aungier (Munster); Paul Boyle (Connacht); Kieran Brookes (Munster); Will Connors (Connacht); Eoin de Buitléar (Connacht); Edwin Edogbo (Munster); Sean Edogbo (Munster); Brian Gleeson (Munster); Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster); Gus McCarthy (Leinster); David McCann (Ulster); Michael Milne (Munster); Conor O’Tighearnaigh (Leinster); Scott Penny (Leinster); Alex Usanov (Leinster).

Backs (12): Joey Carbery (Leinster); Matthew Devine (Ulster); Cathal Forde (Connacht); Fintan Gunne (Leinster); James Hume (Ulster); Dan Kelly (Munster); Shay McCarthy (Munster); Ethan McIlroy (Ulster); Jack Murphy (Ulster); Daniel Ryan (Connacht); Finn Treacy (Connacht) Harry West (Connacht).