Ireland will be without two influential players as they head off to Australia and New Zealand for the start of their Nations Championship campaign.
Inspirational captain Caelan Doris and wing Tommy O’Brien were withdrawn from the 36-player squad after both were injured in Leinster’s 36-7 win over the Vodacom Bulls in Friday night’s URC final.
Doris was replaced after just seven minutes with an injured foot while O’Brien gave way at half-time with a groin injury.
They have been replaced by Ulster brothers Bryn Ward, 21, and Zac Ward, 27.
The uncapped duo, whose father Andy Ward played 28 times for Ireland, including the 1999 World Cup, join three other rookies in Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen in Andy Farrell’s squad.
Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan replaces Doris as skipper on the three-match tour, which kicks off with a Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on 4 July.
Over the following two weekends they will then take on Japan in Newcastle in Australia and the All Blacks in Auckland.
Ireland squad
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sean Jansen, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (c), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier, Bryn Ward.
Backs: Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale, Zac Ward.
– AFP
Photo: David Fitzgerald/Getty Images
