Ireland squad: Caelan Doris fears confirmed as key duo add to growing injury list for Wales clash
Ireland number eight Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher.
Ireland have announced that they will face Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations Test without the services of their captain and number eight Caelan Doris as well as hooker Ronan Kelleher.
Earlier in the week, it was revealed that 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Doris was a serious doubt for the encounter after sustaining a knee injury in their round two victory over Scotland at Murrayfield.
Doris’ run of consecutive Tests comes to an end
It has now been confirmed that the 26-year-old will miss the clash in Cardiff and it also means that his run of 42 consecutive Test appearances for Ireland – which stretches back to the 2021 Six Nations – comes to an end.
Meanwhile, Kelleher is sidelined with a neck issue and with the experienced forward duo set to miss the Six Nations clash, it means that Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan are expected to be promoted from the replacements bench to start at number eight and hooker respectively.
Apart from Doris and Kelleher’s injury-enforced absence, the Ireland camp also confirmed that experienced tighthead prop “Tadhg Furlong is continuing to make progress but will not be available for selection.”
On Sunday, Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby called up six players to his Six Nations squad as they continue their preparations for their clash against Wales.
Munster back-rowers Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett, Leinster’s Diarmuid Mangan and Ulster trio Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney were all named.
The additions of players to the squad came after it was confirmed at the weekend that Iain Henderson (hamstring) and Cormac Izuchukwu (ankle) are also unavailable for the Wales game due to injury.
The Ulster forwards will remain with their province to recover and commence their rehabilitation programmes, it has been confirmed by the reigning Six Nations champions.
Ireland in fine form in the Six Nations
Ireland are setting the pace at the top of the championship standings with 10 points amassed after claiming two successive bonus-point victories over England at the Aviva Stadium and Scotland at Murrayfield.
Meanwhile, Wales are propping up the table with just one point gained after suffering back-to-back defeats against France in Paris and Italy in Rome.
Wales have lost their last 14 Tests which is their worst losing streak in their history and they have appointed Matt Sherratt as their interim coach until the end of the Six Nations.
Sherratt, who is also Cardiff’s head coach, accepted the position after Warren Gatland stepped down from the role following Wales defeat against the Azzurri.
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