Rugby: Four Ulster players named in Ireland squad for Autumn Series
Ulster quartet Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale have been included in the Ireland qaus for next month's Autumn Series.
Ireland open their busy Autumn window with a Soldier Field rematch in Chicago against New Zealand on Saturday November 1st, before returning to Dublin to host Japan, Australia and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.
Ulster's Cormac Izuchukwu hasn't been selected due to the injury he picked up scoring in last Friday night's URC win at home to Bulls.
Caelan Doris will captain the side, while Head Coach Andy Farrell has named one uncapped player in Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy.
Connacht winger Shayne Bolton, who won his first Test cap against Portugal during the Summer Tour, and uncapped Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson will travel with the squad to Chicago as cover.
Hugo Keenan, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, along with Izuchukwu, weren't considered due to injury.
The Ireland squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre this Monday, October 20th before travelling to Chicago the following day. That means Ulster are likely to be without Henderson, McCloskey, Timoney and Stockdale for next weekend's URC clash againat Lions in Johannesburg.
“There’s an exciting look to the panel and there’s an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the Summer Tour to Georgia and Portugal,£ said Farrell.
"The coaching team are looking forward to seeing all of the players take their opportunity over the coming weeks.
“We’re playing four top quality southern hemisphere teams who are all coming off the back of a busy block of matches of late and they’ll be keen to finish their year strongly.
"First up is New Zealand and we’re really excited to get back to Chicago for the Gallagher Cup match. I’ve no doubt the Irish global supporter base will be out once again in force to cheer on the team in a brilliant city at a world-class arena.
“We’ve seen the strides Japan have made from their ever-improving domestic competition and how that has led to success on the field for the national team over the last number of years.
“The following weekend we welcome Australia, a side who we faced in a competitive 150th Anniversary match last November and who have made confident progressions since then through The British and Irish Lions Tour and into the Rugby Championship. We have great respect for them and the Springboks, who we face in the final Test match of the calendar year the following week."
Ireland squad for Autumn Series
Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster)(2), Ryan Baird (Leinster)(29), Finlay Bealham (Connacht)(51), Tadhg Beirne (Munster)(61), Jack Boyle (Leinster)(4), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster)(8), Jack Conan (Leinster)(51), Caelan Doris (Leinster)(51)(Captain), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)(79), Iain Henderson (Ulster)(85), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster)(39), Gus McCarthy (Leinster)(6), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster)*, Andrew Porter (Leinster)(75), Cian Prendergast (Connacht)(5), James Ryan (Leinster)(72), Dan Sheehan (Leinster)(32), Nick Timoney (Ulster)(4), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)(73)
Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht)(65), Caolin Blade (Connacht)(3), Craig Casey (Munster)(20), Jack Crowley (Munster)(26), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster)(9), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(43), Mack Hansen (Connacht)(28), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)(82), James Lowe (Leinster)(40), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)(21), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster)(2), Jamie Osborne (Leinster)(8), Sam Prendergast (Leinster)(9), Garry Ringrose (Leinster)(67), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)(39).
- denotes uncapped player