Rhys Ruddock and Tadhg Furlong could make their return to international rugby in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations after being named as part of Ireland’s 36-man Championship squad.
Tighthead prop Furlong hasn’t played a competitive game of rugby since last February due to back and calf injuries but returned to full training last week and is included in the group by head coach Andy Farrell.
Ruddock hasn’t played for Ireland in more than 15 months but his impressive form in a star-studded Leinster back row has earned him a recall, meaning he has a chance to don the green jersey for the first time since the defeat to New Zealand in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Meanwhile, Ulster prop Tom O’Toole and Munster scrum-half Craig Casey could make their international debuts as the two uncapped players in Farrell’s squad.
Ulster flyer Jacob Stockdale, who is best-known as a winger but has been playing at full-back in recent months, misses out on selection due to a knee injury he sustained playing against Munster earlier this month.
“Since the Autumn international window, the club season has had a good few disruptions and the cancellation of the European fixtures means there have been less opportunities for players to show form or to return from injury and get some minutes under their belts,” explained Farrell.
“Tadhg (Furlong) hasn’t played in quite a while but he is ready to join the group. Unfortunately, Jacob (Stockdale) will not be available to us.”
Ireland kick off their 2021 Guinness Six Nations campaign away to Wales on Sunday February 7 as they look to regain the title they last won in 2018 – having missed out to England on the final day in 2020.
The squad is captained by fly-half Johnny Sexton who, along with back-rower Peter O’Mahony, sustained an injury in the Leinster v Munster clash over the weekend and will be assessed in camp this week.
Ireland squad for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations:
Backs Bundee Aki (Connacht) 30 caps Billy Burns (Ulster) 3 caps Ross Byrne (Leinster) 11 caps Craig Casey (Munster) uncapped Andrew Conway (Munster) 24 caps Shane Daly (Munster) 1 cap Keith Earls (Munster) 88 caps Chris Farrell (Munster) 14 caps Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 5 caps Robbie Henshaw (Leinster) 47 caps Hugo Keenan (Leinster) 6 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster) 24 caps James Lowe (Leinster) 2 caps Stuart McCloskey (Ulster) 4 caps Conor Murray (Munster) 87 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 30 caps Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) 95 caps – CAPTAIN
Forwards Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 17 caps Will Connors (Leinster) 5 caps Caelan Doris (Leinster) 7 caps Ultan Dillane (Connacht) 17 caps Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 25 caps Cian Healy (Leinster) 104 caps Dave Heffernan (Connacht) 5 caps Iain Henderson (Ulster) 58 caps Rob Herring (Ulster) 16 caps Ronan Kelleher (Leinster) 6 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) 39 caps Peter O’Mahony (Munster) 73 caps Tom O’Toole (Ulster) uncapped Andrew Porter (Leinster) 32 caps Quinn Roux (Connacht) 16 caps Rhys Ruddock (Leinster) 26 caps James Ryan (Leinster) 32 caps CJ Stander (Munster) 46 caps Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 28 caps
