2024-01-17 18:25:43
Jonathan Sexton recently retired, the Irish XV was looking for a new captain. It was ultimately Munster’s third row, Peter O’Mahony, who was appointed, as the federation announced on Wednesday with a view to the Six Nations Tournament, of which the Clover XV is the defending champion. The 34-year-old Cork native will take a group of 34 players to prepare for the first match on February 2 against France in Marseille. Three other players will also take part in the preparation camp which begins next week in Portugal, said the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).
With 101 caps under his belt, Peter O’Mahony is one of the most capped along with his club teammate and scrum-half Conor Murray (112 caps), prop Cian Healy (125) and third row Josh van der Flier (57), Leinster players, as well as Ulster second row Iain Henderson (79) “He is a born leader and someone who has had a great influence on Munster and Ireland for many years,” said justified coach Andy Farrell, quoted in a press release. “I am sure that the team will continue to benefit from his leadership qualities, on and off the field.” O’Mahony has already worn the captain’s armband on ten occasions.
The group does not include any new recruits and must do without, as expected, prop Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), winger Mack Hansen (shoulder), three-quarter Jimmy O’Brien (neck) and retired Keith Earls. On the other hand, Farrell can count on winger James Lowe, who only returned to competition on Saturday with Leinster against Stade français (43-7), in the Champions Cup, a first since the elimination in the quarter-finals of the Coupe du world 2023.
Ireland squad for the Six Nations Tournament:
Avants (19) : Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster, cap.), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
Arrières (15) : Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)
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