Fit-again Jacob Stockdale has been recalled to the Ireland squad ahead of their Round 4 clash with Scotland this weekend.
Stockdale missed the first three games of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations with a knee injury but returned to action for club side Ulster in their recent Guinness PRO14 win over Ospreys.
The 24-year-old then also successfully came through last weekend’s clash with Leinster, prompting Ireland coach Andy Farrell to include the speedster in his 36-man group for Sunday’s trip to BT Murrayfield.
Stockdale has fond memories of the Guinness Six Nations after being named Player of the Championship back in 2018, when he broke the record for tries in a single Championship by crossing the whitewash seven times.
Although the bulk of his career has seen him play as a winger – including his recent Ulster appearances – his last five games in an Ireland shirt, all of which came last autumn, were at full-back.
That versatility could see him make the matchday 23 for Sunday’s clash against Scotland, where both teams will be eager to notch their second victory of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
Stockdale replaces Munster’s Shane Daly in the Ireland squad, while back-rower Josh van der Flier will go through graduated return to play protocols in camp this week.
Ireland have no significant injury concerns from the other 12 players who featured in the Guinness PRO14 fixtures over the weekend.
Ireland squad for Round 4 of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations
Backs Bundee Aki (Connacht) 30 caps Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps Ross Byrne (Leinster) 12 caps Craig Casey (Munster) 1 cap Andrew Conway (Munster) 24 caps Keith Earls (Munster) 91 caps Chris Farrell (Munster) 14 caps Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) 8 caps Robbie Henshaw (Leinster) 50 caps Hugo Keenan (Leinster) 9 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster) 27 caps James Lowe (Leinster) 5 caps Stuart McCloskey (Ulster) 4 caps Conor Murray (Munster) 88 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 33 caps Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) 97 caps Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) 33 caps
Forwards Ryan Baird (Leinster) 1 cap Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 20 caps Ed Byrne (Leinster) 4 caps Jack Conan (Leinster) 18 caps Will Connors (Leinster) 8 caps Ultan Dillane (Connacht) 18 caps Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 47 caps Cian Healy (Leinster) 107 caps Dave Heffernan (Connacht) 5 caps Iain Henderson (Ulster) 61 caps Rob Herring (Ulster) 19 caps Ronan Kelleher (Leinster) 9 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) 41 caps Tom O’Toole (Ulster) uncapped Andrew Porter (Leinster) 35 caps James Ryan (Leinster) 34 caps Rhys Ruddock (Leinster) 27 caps CJ Stander (Munster) 49 caps Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 30 caps