Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has announced his 33-member squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup with Jonathan Sexton named to captain the team in France.
Farrell says it was a complex selection process while trying to pick the best 33 players because they have worked extremely hard throughout the eight-week pre-season period, with the group pushing each other on the pitch and becoming very close off it.
He says as coaches, they are pleased with their selection and believe they have chosen the right group to represent Ireland in France.
The Ireland coach says Sexton is one of three Ireland players set to appear at their fourth Rugby World Cup, with the captain having featured in 2011, 2015 and 2019 and has won the 2018 World Player of The Year playing alongside Conor Murray and recent Test centurion Keith Earls.
Farrell says there is a wealth of Rugby World Cup experience throughout the 33-player travelling squad, as Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Robbie Henshaw and Peter O’Mahony prepare for their third global tournament.
At the same time, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, David Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier were all involved in Japan four years ago.
The remaining 18 new players will make their Rugby World Cup debuts in France. Forwards Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Jeremy Loughman, Caelan Doris, Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Tom O’Toole and Dan Sheehan and backs Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan.
Old players also named are Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Jimmy O'Brien, Jimmy O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton(captain).
Ireland opens their Pool B campaign against Romania next Friday at Stade de Bordeaux, before taking on Tonga in their second outing in Nantes on the 16th of September then move on to play the defending champions South Africa on the 23rd of September and plays Scotland on the 7th of October.
Source: www.irishrugby.ie
