Craig Casey and Tom O'Toole included in Ireland's Six Nations squad
Andy Farrell's 36-man squad for the 2021 Six Nations shows two uncapped players in Munster scrum-half Craig Casey and Ulster prop Tom O'Toole. Other headlines are the injury-enforced absence of Ulster's Jacob Stockdale, and the inclusion of injured pair Tadhg Furlong and Iain Henderson.
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 25/01/21 4:09pm
Uncapped Munster scrum-half Craig Casey and Ulster tighthead Tom O'Toole have been included in Andy Farrell's 36-man Ireland Six Nations squad.
Casey, 21, is one of three scrum-halves included alongside provincial team-mate Conor Murray and Leinster's Jamison Gibson-Park, with Leinster's Luke McGrath, Connacht's Kieran Marmion and Ulster's John Cooney all left out.
As well as 22-year-old O'Toole at tighthead prop, Leinster's Tadhg Furlong is included despite a calf injury that has kept him out since February. Leinster's Andrew Porter is also selected, as Munster prop John Ryan misses out.
The other headline news is that Ulster back Jacob Stockdale has not been included due to his knee injury.
Elsewhere within the squad, flanker Rhys Ruddock has been recalled due to his form for Leinster - with uncapped Munster back-row Gavin Coombes missing out despite his strong PRO14 form - with three other Leinster back-rows picked in Caelan Doris, Will Connors and Josh van der Flier.
Experienced Munster pair CJ Stander and Peter O'Mahony complete the loose forward options.
In the second row, Ulster's Iain Henderson is included despite not playing since early December due to a knee injury, alongside Leinster's James Ryan, Munster's Tadhg Beirne and Connacht pair Ultan Dillane and Quinn Roux.
Munster duo Dave Kilcoyne (loosehead prop) and Andrew Conway (wing) are both included, despite recent injuries, but hooker Niall Scannell has not impressed enough to get in, with Ulster's Rob Herring, Leinster's Ronan Kelleher and Connacht's Dave Heffernan selected.
Johnny Sexton will captain the squad from out-half, with Ulster's Billy Burns and Leinster's Ross Byrne the other 10s selected, while no fewer than five centres have been picked: Leinster duo Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, Connacht's Bundee Aki, Munster's Chris Farrell and Ulster's Stuart McCloskey.
The back-three options show a lot of youth in the shape of Munster's Shane Daly, Leinster's Jordan Larmour and Hugo Keenan, as well as the likes of Conway, the experienced Keith Earls and the recently-capped James Lowe.
Ireland's 36-man 2021 Six Nations squad:
Forwards (19): Tadhg Beirne, Will Connors, Caelan Doris, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier.
Backs (17): Bundee Aki, Billy Burns, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Shane Daly, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Jamison Gibson Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton (c).
Ireland Six Nations Fixtures
- Wales - Principality Stadium - Sunday, February 7 - 3pm (GMT)
- France - Aviva Stadium - Sunday, February 14 - 3pm (GMT)
- Italy - Stadio Olimpico - Saturday, February 27 - 2.15pm (GMT)
- Scotland - Murrayfield - Sunday, March 14 - 3pm (GMT)
- England - Aviva Stadium - Saturday, March 20 - 4.45pm (GMT)
