
Rugby
Share
Published 17:02 4 Jun 2025 BST
Updated 17:05 4 Jun 2025 BST

The Ireland summer tour squad has been announced with head coach Paul O’Connell naming a host of young and upcoming talent in his 35-man group.
The tour takes place next month in Georgia and Portugal and 14 of the players travelling are uncapped.
Not all players were fortunate enough to get an opportunity and fans are not happy with some notable omissions.
One of the omissions causing a stir on social media is Munster centre Tom Farrell.
Farrell has been in excellent form this season, picking up the URC Playmaker award on the same day as the squad announcement, while the 31-year-old was also included in the URC elite XV.
Despite being seeing as the form 13 to some fans, Farrell couldn't find a spot in the team over fellow centres Stuart McCloskey, Hugh Gavin, Jamie Osborne, or Jude Postlethwaite.
This is a decision that has confused many.
Another absence that has shocked fans is fellow Munster man and openside flanker John Hodnett.
Hodnett has been in fine form for Munster this season as well. The Corkman also got his first taste of an Ireland camp during the recent Six Nations campaign as a late call-up.
However, the man who he keeps on the bench at Munster, Alex Kendellen, has been named.
Player/Club/Province/Caps
Forwards (18):
Backs (14):
Training Panellists:
James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
*denotes uncapped
Explore more on these topics:
Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1)
Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)
Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18)
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24)
Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19)
Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)*
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)*
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38)
Fan footage shows real culprit of Leinster vs Stormers tunnel brawl
Absolute scenes! In what was a brutally tough encounter this evening between Leinster and the Stormers, in their URC semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. It ultimately finished 20-11 to Leinster, who will now face the Bulls in the final in Dublin. The discipline of the Stormers proved to be there downfall, with the South African […]
Rugby
1 day ago
Simon Zebo delights in Leinster struggles as he slags off Leo Cullen
He just can’t help himself! Leinster, and the club’s set-up, have been highly criticised over the past few weeks after yet another failure in the Champions Cup, with their final loss to Bordeaux. Many fans have been calling for the head of Leo Cullen, with press conferences involving the head coach leading to some tetchy […]
Rugby
1 day ago
Live sport on TV in Ireland this weekend – Football, GAA, Rugby – May 29th to May 31st
Rugby