Andy Farrell expects his players to grab their opportunity by the scruff of the neck after naming a 37-man squad for their two summer Tests against Japan and the USA.
James Ryan will captain the squad which includes 11 uncapped players, including Robert Baloucoune, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney (Ulster), Caolin Blade, Tom Daly and Paul Boyle (Connacht).
Harry Byrne, Peter Dooley and Ross Molony (Leinster) and Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley (Munster) have also got the nod and could make their Ireland debuts.
Experienced internationals Johnny Sexton, Cian Healy and Keith Earls have not been selected by the Ireland head coach for the summer series, however, with Farrell keen to see some new faces in action.
Farrell said: “We now have two games at home to focus on which will be a good challenge for the group. Japan played the Sunwolves at the weekend and will play the Lions the week before we play at the Aviva Stadium and we know the quality of their squad from the World Cup.
“We will assemble as a squad on the 22nd June and begin our preparations for the two games.
“I know the players will come in eager to make the most of this opportunity to pull on the green jersey and play in front of supporters for at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in 18 months.
Wales to play three summer Tests as July schedule announced for Guinness Six Nations sides
“Johnny (Sexton), Cian (Healy) and Keith (Earls) will not be involved in this window as we grow the experience of other players. It will be a great opportunity to see can this group perform at this level.”
The match against Japan on Saturday 3rd July will kick off at 1.00pm and the fixture against the USA on Saturday 10th July will kick off at 7.15pm.
Both fixtures are part of the government’s outdoor pilot sport event programme which will see limited supporters back in the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland Vodafone Summer Series Squad 2021
Backs (17) Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps
Forwards (20) Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps Paul Boyle (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
