Joey Carbery omitted from Ireland’s Six Nations squad
Joey Carbery and Nick Timoney have been been left out of Ireland’s squad for the opening rounds of the Guinness Six Nations, with Jamie Osborne the only uncapped player in a 37-man group.
Carbery misses out at the expense of his Munster team-mate Jack Crowley and Leinster’s Ross Byrne, while Johnny Sexton captains the side as usual.
Timoney is one of several Ulster players to have been left out off the back of their poor recent form, with Mike Lowry, Kieran Treadwell and James Hume not included in Andy Farrell’s squad, but Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale are among five Ulstermen to make the cut.
Leinster’s Jamie Osborne is rewarded with his excellent recent form with a call-up, while a number of players have earned recalls.
Dave Kilcoyne comes into the main squad for the first time since last season’s Six Nations, with his Munster team-mate Jeremy Loughman injured, while injured pair Robbie Henshaw and Rob Baloucoune have also been left out.
Keith Earls, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe and Rónan Kelleher are all included again having missed out on the Autumn Nations Series due to injury, while Gavin Coombes is recalled after an impressive six tries in his last eight games for Munster.
“The Six Nations is a huge competition for us and another opportunity for us to grow as group,” Farrell said.
“2022 was a busy year as we got to work with a larger group of players as we continued to build our squad depth and competition for places.
“While there are a few players carrying knocks and others that have missed out on selection for the start of the tournament, they will have the opportunity to push their case playing for their provinces in the URC over the coming weeks as no doubt we will need to call upon the wider group as the tournament progresses.”
Ireland take on Wales in their opening game of the tournament in Cardiff on Saturday 4 February.
Backs (17): Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton (captain), Jacob Stockdale
Forwards (20): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Rónan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier
