Five Kildare Men To Start For Ireland's Six Nations Clash With France

Thursday, 5 February 2026 12:27

By Emma O'Connor

They kick off their Six Nations campaign against defending champions - France.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris says the squad are ready to "embrace" the hostile atmosphere awaiting them in Paris tonight.

Five Kildare men have been named to start in tonight's game - Naas's Jamie Osborne, Suncroft brothers Cian and Sam Prendergast, Eadestown's Tadgh Beirne, and Athy's Jeremy Loughman.

They kick off their Six Nations campaign against defending champions - and tournament favourites - France.

It's Ireland's first return to the French capital since their agonising World Cup quarter final defeat to New Zealand in 2023.

Kick-off in Paris is at 8:10pm

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(10)
14. Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)(6)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(69)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(23)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(40)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(46)

1. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(5)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(35)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(10)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(65)
6. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(8)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(75)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(55)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(43)
17. Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)(2)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(54)
19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(76)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(55)
21. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(6)
22. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(24)
23. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(30).