Ireland will face Nations Championship Tests away to Australia and New Zealand next month without a number of key players, including Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Mack Hansen.
Crowley, who firmly re-established himself as Ireland’s starting fly-half during the 2026 Six Nations, missed the end of the season with Munster due to an obscure nerve issue in his leg.
Loosehead prop Porter has endured an injury-ravaged campaign – having missed the entire 2026 Six Nations – and picked up his second calf injury last week to end his season.
Connacht wing Mack Hansen has also missed the majority of the season due to a foot injury, undergoing surgery in December.
The IRFU confirmed a further seven players are unavailable for Andy Farrell due to injury in Ryan Baird, Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell, Paddy McCarthy and Calvin Nash.
Mack Hansen is another key man for Ireland who will miss the July Tests
Uncapped Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen have all been included in the 36-player squad to face Australia, Japan and New Zealand next month, with Caelan Doris skippering the side.
Farrell said: “I’m pleased to announce the Ireland squad for the opening three rounds of the Nations Championship.
“This competition will bring the best of the northern hemisphere up against their southern counterparts and the road for that Sunday evening slot for Finals Weekend in London starts now.
“We have three tough Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand and it’s important that we hit the ground running in this new tournament.
“For us, we are aiming to build on our positive performances during the recent Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
“The non-Leinster contingent across the three provinces have completed a three-day training block this week in the IRFU High Performance Centre ahead of our departure on Monday and it has given us the chance to look at the squad going forward.
“Congratulations to Billy, Sam and Sean on their selections and each of them has earned the right to be selected after their performances this season.
“Their selection, allied to an experienced majority who we hope to see perform strongly for Leinster in the BKT URC final on Friday night, will add great energy to the squad which we’ve been building over the last number of campaigns.”
Ireland return to action for the first time since this year’s Six Nations, where they finished second behind France and won a Triple Crown.
Farrell’s side begin their Nations Championship campaign against Australia at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 4 before coming up against Japan a week later at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Ireland then face New Zealand in Auckland at Eden Park on July 18.
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