Jack Conan ruled out of Ireland’s tour to South Africa due to personal reasons

The Irish Independent understands that Conan’s wife Ali is due to give birth to the couple’s first child during the window that Ireland will take on the Springboks in two Tests, and as such, the Bray native has decided to make himself unavailable to travel.

With Conan (31) set to miss out, Ulster back-row Nick Timoney is expected to be included, while Munster No 8 Gavin Coombes is also in the mix when Andy Farrell likely names his squad on Tuesday afternoon.

Timoney’s Ulster team-mate Cormac Izuchukwu has been tipped for his first call-up.

The 24-year-old Tullamore man enjoyed a strong finish to the season with Ulster, and although the versatile back-row was forced off injured against Leinster a fortnight ago, he has caught the eye of Farrell.

The Ireland head coach and his assistant Paul O’Connell were in Thomond Park on Saturday for Munster’s defeat to Glasgow, and they will hope that Calvin Nash is fit enough to travel to South Africa after the in-form winger missed out last weekend with what was described as a “leg knock”.

Garry Ringrose will also hope to get the nod after the fit-again centre made his return from a shoulder injury in Leinster’s URC semi-final defeat to the Bulls last weekend, and having missed the majority of the season, including most of Ireland’s successful Six Nations campaign, the midfielder will be eager to feature in green again.

Farrell is expected to name a familiar-looking strong squad for the games in Pretoria (July 6) and Durban (July 13), but he will have to plan without Conan, who is a key squad member.