Fans fume over two shock omissions in Ireland summer tour squad

Big call to not include either in the squad.

The Ireland summer tour squad has been announced with head coach Paul O’Connell naming a host of young and upcoming talent in his 35-man group.

The tour takes place next month in Georgia and Portugal and 14 of the players travelling are uncapped.

Not all players were fortunate enough to get an opportunity and fans are not happy with some notable omissions.

One of the omissions causing a stir on social media is Munster centre Tom Farrell.

Farrell has been in excellent form this season, picking up the URC Playmaker award on the same day as the squad announcement, while the 31-year-old was also included in the URC elite XV.

Despite being seeing as the form 13 to some fans, Farrell couldn't find a spot in the team over fellow centres Stuart McCloskey, Hugh Gavin, Jamie Osborne, or Jude Postlethwaite.

This is a decision that has confused many.

Another absence that has shocked fans is fellow Munster man and openside flanker John Hodnett.

Hodnett has been in fine form for Munster this season as well. The Corkman also got his first taste of an Ireland camp during the recent Six Nations campaign as a late call-up.

However, the man who he keeps on the bench at Munster, Alex Kendellen, has been named.

Ireland rugby summer squad:

Player/Club/Province/Caps

Forwards (18):

Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1)
Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)

Backs (14):

Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18)
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24)
Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19)
Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)*
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)*
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38)

Training Panellists:

James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*

*denotes uncapped