We're backing these lads to get off to a flyer.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named his extended squad of 36 for the 2018 Six Nations.
The squad was announced by the IRFU this afternoon (in the comments section of their Facebook page) and Schmidt will select his matchday 23s for the opening games against France and Italy from the men included.
Rory Scannel and Fergus McFadden are included whilst the uncapped Jordan Larmour has been called up to.
THE SQUAD
FORWARDS (20)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) c 106 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 5 caps
Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 56 caps
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 11 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 19 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 73 caps
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 34 caps
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 3 cap
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 22 caps
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 42 caps
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 42 caps
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 3 caps
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 3 caps
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 11 caps
CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 18 caps
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 53 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 9 caps
BACKS (16)
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 2 caps
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 6 caps
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 6 caps
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps
Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 2 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 31 caps
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 78 caps
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 7 caps
Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 18 caps
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 32 caps
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 59 caps
Johnny Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 68 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 3 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 4 caps
Not considered due to injury are Jamie Heaslip, Jared Payne, Luke Marshall, Garry Ringrose, Sean O'Brien and Adam Byrne. The uncapped but Irish qualified Tyler Bleyendaal is still recovering from a neck injury.
France head coach Jacques Brunel also named his Six Nations squad, this afternoon, with Mathieu Bastareaud of Toulon included. The Toulon centre was then banned for three weeks following a homophobic comment made in last Sunday's Champions Cup clash with Benetton Treviso. His place in the squad was taken by Jonathan Danty of Stade Francais.
https://twitter.com/FFRugby/status/953612607520428032
Ireland kick off their championship against France on Saturday, February 3.
