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As expected, Irish captain Johnny Sexton has been excused from this summer’s two tests at home to Japan and the USA in a 37-man Irish squad named by Andy Farrell which features 11 uncapped players.
Farrell and Mike Catt have long since admired Harry Byrne and his inclusion, along with the return of Joey Carbery means not only will Sexton have to wait until the November window to play his 100th test for Ireland, but there is also no place for Byrne’s older brother Ross. Billy Burns is the third outhalf in the squad.
James Ryan will captain the squad during summer series and in addition to the younger Byrne brother, the other 10 uncapped players are Robert Baloucoune, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney (all Ulster), Caolin Blade, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle (Connacht), Peter Dooley, Ross Molony (Leinster), Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley (Munster).
As well as the eight players chosen for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, namely Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray and the injured Andrew Porter, CJ Stander has retired, Quinn Roux has ended his time at Connacht, James Lowe, Rhys Ruddock and Will Connors are injured.
Ala Sexton, Keith Earls and Cian Healy have also been rested.
The match against Japan on Saturday July 3rd will kick off at 1pm and the fixture against the USA on Saturday July 10th will kick off at 7.15pm. Both fixtures are part of the government’s outdoor pilot sport event programme which will see limited supporters back in the Aviva Stadium.
“We now have two games at home to focus on which will be a good challenge for the group,” said Farrell. “Japan played the Sunwolves at the weekend and will play the Lions the week before we play at the Aviva Stadium and we know the quality of their squad from the World Cup. We will assemble as a squad on the 22nd June and begin our preparations for the two games.
“I know the players will come in eager to make the most of this opportunity to pull on the green jersey and play in front of supporters for at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in 18 months.
“Johnny (Sexton), Cian (Healy) and Keith (Earls) will not be involved in this window as we grow the experience of other players. It will be a great opportunity to see can this group perform at this level.”
Both games will be broadcast live by RTE and Channel 4.
Squad
Backs (17)
Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped
Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap
Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps
Forwards (20)
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
Paul Boyle (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped