Gibson-Park blow and three new caps – Andy Farrell names Ireland squad for summer tour of South Africa

The scrum-half was forced off during Leinster’s defeat to the Bulls last weekend, and he will not recover in time to be part of the 35-man squad that will take on the Springboks in two Tests.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named three uncapped players in the travelling party, as Leinster backs Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast get the nod, along with Ulster’s versatile back-row Cormac Izuchukwu.

As reported by the Irish Independent yesterday, Leinster No 8 Jack Conan misses out due to personal reasons, while Connacht winger Mack Hansen remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

There was no place in the squad for either Byrne brother, as Ross and Harry miss out in favour of their Leinster team-mate Ciarán Frawley.

Peter O’Mahony retains the captaincy on the back of leading Ireland to the Six Nations title earlier this year.

“I am proud to be asked to lead Ireland in South Africa, a country which provides one of the toughest challenges in world rugby,” O’Mahony said.

“As reigning world champions, South Africa will provide the sternest of tests and we know that we will have to perform at a high level to get the results we want. There’s a lot of respect and familiarity between both countries in recent years at international and Club levels, since they were invited to join the URC and European Cup competitions, and we know the challenge that awaits.”

Ireland will take on the Boks in Pretoria on July 6 before travelling to Durban for the second Test the following week (July 13).

Farrell says he is relishing the challenge that lies ahead: “Travelling to South Africa to play a Test Series against the defending world champions provides no greater test for us, and it is another valuable opportunity for us to further grow and develop from the Guinness Six Nations.

“The squad will come together in Dublin this week in preparation for the Tour and the group understands the need to hit the ground running, ensuring we are the best version of ourselves for the challenge ahead.”

The Ireland squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin on Thursday to begin preparations for the two-match Test Series against the Springboks.

Ireland Squad – Summer Tour 2024

Forwards

(Player/club & province/caps)

Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) 20

Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 40

Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 50

Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 41

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 76

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 129

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 39

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster/Ballynahinch)*

Oli Jager (Munster) 1

Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) 31

Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster) 10

Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain) 105

Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 13

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 64

Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht) 3

James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 62

Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 26

Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster) 3

Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 62

Backs

Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 56

Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht) 2

Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) 14

Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) 14

Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster) 4

Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 72

Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 32

James Lowe (Leinster) 31

Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster) 17

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 116

Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) 6

Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster) 8

Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)*

Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)*

Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 58

Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 37

* denotes uncapped player

Unavailable: Jamison Gibson-Park (hamstring injury), Jack Conan (personal reasons), Mack Hansen (shoulder injury) and Hugo Keenan (Olympic Sevens)

Summer Tour 2024 Fixtures

Saturday July 6: South Africa v Ireland, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (5pm local time/4pm Irish time)

Saturday July 13: South Africa v Ireland, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (5pm local time/4pm Irish time).