Peter O’Mahony has been named captain of Ireland’s Six Nations squad for the upcoming campaign.
The Munster backrow, whose future for next season remains in doubt given his contract situation at Munster, will lead a 34-player squad.
“He is a born leader and someone who has been an influential figure for Munster and Ireland for many years,” said Andy Farrell of his new captain, O’Mahony. “I am confident that the squad will continue to benefit from his leadership skills, both on and off the field. He is thoroughly deserving of this honour, and I know that he will relish working closely with the wider leadership group and squad over the coming campaign. I would like to congratulate him and his family at this special time.”
O’Mahony himself added: “Ever since I was a boy starting off in the game, I have always dreamed of captaining Ireland. I have been asked to lead Ireland on a number of occasions previously, and each of those 10 matches were special days. To be now asked to captain Ireland ahead of the Six Nations is without doubt one of the proudest moments of my life and I would like to thank Andy [Farrell] for this show of faith in me.
”We have a strong core of leaders who will all play a key role in driving the highest standards for the team over the coming weeks. Competition is red hot across the squad and we’re all hugely motivated to work hard when we meet up next week ahead of the opening game in Marseille.”
Farrell has not named any uncapped players in the 34-strong squad, but has included three additional training players, all of whom are uncapped: Munster tighthead Oli Jager, backrow/lock hybrid Tom Ahern and Leinster outhalf Sam Prendergast.
Elsewhere, the injured Ross Byrne misses out having not lined out for Leinster since picking up an arm issue against Munster in November. Alongside Jack Crowley, Ross’ younger brother, Harry, and Ciarán Frawley will compete for the starting outhalf shirt in Ireland’s first Six Nations since the retirement of Johnny Sexton.
After Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien were ruled out of the tournament due to injury, Farrell has picked Jacob Stockdale, Calvin Nash and Jordan Larmour to compete for the vacant slot on the wing. After proving his fitness in his first game since the World Cup last weekend, James Lowe has been included. Hugo Keenan is the lone specialist fullback.
The World Cup centre group of Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey all keep their place, as do Conor Murray, Craig Casey and Jamison Gibson-Park at scrumhalf.
In the forwards, Ulster’s Nick Timoney has been rewarded for his recent form with a recall, edging out the likes of Ahern, Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett for a place in the main squad. He is joined in the backrow by O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird.
With Dave Kilcoyne out for the season, Cian Healy returns to the national set-up having missed the World Cup through injury, joining Andrew Porter and Jeremy Loughman as the loosehead props in the squad. Rob Herring, an injury doubt in his own right, misses out in favour of his Ulster teammate Tom Stewart. He joins Rónan Kelleher and Dan Sheehan as the hookers.
Ireland’s first Six Nations outing comes against France in Marseille on February 2.
Ireland Six Nations squad
Forwards: Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham, Tom O’Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart, Andrew Porter, Jeremy Loughman, Cian Healy, Ian Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Ryan Baird.
Backs: Jamison Gibson-Park. Craig Casey, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Hugo Keenan, Jacob Stockdale, James Lowe, Calvin Nash, Jordan Larmour.
Training panellists: Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Sam Prendergast
