Ireland name squad for South Africa tour

Editor

The Ireland national coaching group have selected a squad of 32 players to travel to South Africa in June for a three-Test series against the Springboks.

The squad will depart for South Africa on Sunday, June 5, and will be based in Cape Town ahead of the first Test at Newlands Stadium before moving to Johannesburg for the second Test at Emirates Airline Park.

The third and final Test will take place in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt commented: “Touring South Africa will be arduous to say the least so we’ve attempted to prioritise players who are currently as close to full fitness as possible.

"In what is always a difficult balancing act, we’ve taken a long term view with a number of players who need a rest or will benefit from a full pre-season.”

Players unavailable for selection include Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo.

Uncapped players in the squad include Connacht's Quinn Roux and Ulster's Sean Reidy. Ian Madigan, Tommy O'Donnell, Craig Gilroy and Stuart McCloskey all miss out.

Ireland Squad

Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Rory Best (c), Sean Cronin, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Heaslip (vc), Iain Henderson, David Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Sean Reidy, Mike Ross, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner

Backs: Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Kieran Marmion, Luke Marshall, Conor Murray, Stuart Olding, Jared Payne, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble