Andy Farrell Names Ireland Team For Six Nations Game Against Italy

Kick-off on Saturday at 2:10pm.

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, for Saturday’s Six Nations Men's game against Italy.

Kick-off is at 2:10pm at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland return home for their first 2026 Championship clash in Dublin, with Caelan Doris named to captain the side once again.

Munster’s uncapped second row Edwin Edogbo is in line for his Test debut in green off the bench.

It's understood, Edogbo has impressed the Coaching Team in camp and earns his place in the Match Day 23 for the first time.

Naas's Jamie Osborne continues at full-back for Ireland, with Rob Baloucoune, who makes his Six Nations debut, and James Lowe selected to start on the wings. 

Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are retained in midfield, while Craig Casey comes in to form the half-back partnership with Suncroft's Sam Prendergast.

In the pack, Athy's Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson make up an unchanged front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the engine room. 

Cormac Izuchukwu starts at blindside flanker for his Six Nations debut in green, with captain Doris shifting to openside and Jack Conan coming in to start at number eight.

Tadhg Furlong returns to fitness to be included in the Match Day 23, joining Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, the uncapped Edogbo, Eadestown's Tadhg Beirne and Nick Timoney as the forward replacements. 

Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley are the backline options, completing Ireland’s bench.

Ireland (v Italy):

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(11)
14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(4)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(70)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(24)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(43)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(14)
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(25)

1. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(6)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(36)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(11)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(20)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(77)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(3)
7. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(56)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(56)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(44)
17. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(17)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(82)
19. Edwin Edogbo (UCC/Munster)*
20. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(66)
21. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(7)
22. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(47)
23. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(31).