No rest for Ireland's Grand Slam champions

Wed, May 23, 2018, 10:13 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Johnny Sexton is in Ireland's squad to come to Australia. Photo: Getty Images
Johnny Sexton is in Ireland's squad to come to Australia. Photo: Getty Images

There will be no second-string Ireland in Australia in June, with a strong squad announced overnight. 

There were reports that coach Joe Schmidt would be tempted to rest some of his Grand Slam winners for the June Series, but those rumours have proven unfounded.

Flyhalf Johnny Sexton and nine Conor Murray have both been named in a 32-man squad for the three-Test tour, which includes two uncapped players.

One of those uncapped players is former Leinster lock Tadhg Beirne, who has thrived in a move to Welsh side Scarlets, nominated for European Player of the Year,  this season.

Tadhg Beirne is a chance of an Ireland debut in June. Photo: Getty ImagesRoss Byrne is the other, a Leinster flyhalf, joining teammates Sexton and Joey Carbery in the squad.

Centre Bundee Aki has been included despite an ankle injury ruling him out of captaining the Barbarians 

"This has probably been the most difficult selection process for the coaching group to date," Schmidt said.

"Over the past couple of months the national coaches have spent time in the provinces and been in communication with the provincial coaches who have done a super job in managing the players across the season."

News of Ireland's squad will be a major boon for the Wallabies and rugby fans, with the Sydney Test all but sold out on Tuesday.

The Wallabies face Ireland in an historic three-Test series, kicking off on June 9 in Brisbane, at 8pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.

SQUAD

Forwards (18)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 111 (capt)

Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets) *

Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 7

Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 61

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 23

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 78

Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 38

Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 3

Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 9

Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 47

Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 20

Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 47

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 7

Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 5

James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 8

John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 13

CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 23

Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 58

Backs (14)

Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 7

Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) *

Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 10

Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 6

John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 1

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 67

Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 33

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 83

Jordan Larmour (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 3

Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 21

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 64

Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 13

Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 73

Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahnch/Ulster) 9

* Denotes uncapped player

FIXTURE

Wallabies-Ireland June Series

Saturday June 9 - Wallabies vs Ireland,  Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm AEST

Saturday June 16 - Wallabies vs Ireland, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 8pm AEST

Saturday June 23 - Wallabies vs Ireland, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 8pm AEST

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