Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale have each been picked to start for Ireland against France in their Guinness Six Nations opener in Paris, but Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out.Â
With Ireland already shorn of Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle on the loosehead side of the scrum, the absence of tighthead prop Furlong – due to a calf injury – is a major blow for Andy Farrell.
Ireland are also without experienced trio Hugo Keenan (fractured thumb), Mack Hansen (foot injury) and Bundee Aki (suspension).
Prendergast starts at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne – despite the latter having usurped him at provincial level for Leinster.
At full-back, Osborne returns from a shoulder injury to play for the first time since November, and completes the back-three alongside Tommy O’Brien and Stockdale – the latter’s form rewarded ahead of James Lowe.
Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey are paired in the centres, while Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrum-half.
Munster’s Jeremy Loughman starts at loosehead, with provincial teammate Michael Milne among the replacements, and forms the front-row with hooker Dan Sheehan and tighthead Tom Clarkson.
Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne partner one another in the second-row, while Cian Prendergast – brother of Sam – is a surprise back-row selection at blindside flanker, with openside Josh van der Flier and No 8 Caelan Doris completing the team.
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Key man Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of the trip to Paris due to a calf injury
There is no room in the squad for exciting Munster lock Edwin Edogbo, but Ireland do name a 6-2 replacements bench of forwards to backs comprising of: Milne, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey and Crowley.
“I’ve been pleased with the application of the squad since we linked up last week and we’ve a good body of work under our belts from our training camp in Portugal as we face into an exciting test match against France,” head coach Andy Farrell said.
“The Six Nations is an amazing tournament to compete in and it brings out the best in players. We have played at the Stade de France many times and it’s a terrific stadium with an incredible atmosphere.
“We know from our experiences on the road how proud and vocal the travelling Irish support can be and it’s a huge motivator for the squad knowing that we have so many Irish supporters behind us.”
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Ireland team to face France
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tom Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Craig Casey, 23 Jack Crowley.
Dupont returns for Ireland opener
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France captain Antoine Dupont will return for the defending champions’ Six Nations opener against Ireland
Antoine Dupont will return to captain defending champions France for Thursday evening’s Six Nations curtain-raiser against Ireland in Paris.
The Toulouse scrum-half has not played at international level since rupturing the ACL in his right knee during Les Bleus’ 42-27 win in Dublin last February.
Head coach Fabien Galthie raised some eyebrows by leaving centre Gael Fickou and wing Damian Penaud out of his squad for the championship but has named a formidable backline.
In the absence of injured fly-half Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert will partner Dupont, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey – last year’s player of the tournament after scoring eight tries – starts on the left wing.
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Dupont has not featured for France since rupturing his ACL against Ireland in Dublin last February
Yoram Moefana is joined by Nicolas Depoortere in midfield, with Theo Attissogbe on the right wing and Thomas Ramos at full-back.
Galthie also overlooked former captain Gregory Alldritt for his squad before veteran prop Uini Atonio was forced to retire due to a heart problem.
Anthony Jelonch takes Alldritt’s place at number eight, between flankers Francois Cros and Oscar Jegou.
Props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Dorian Aldegheri pack down with hooker Julian Marchand in the front row, ahead of locks Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard.
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France team to face Ireland
France: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Loius Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (capt); 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Charles Ollivon, 5 Mickael Guillard, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Anthony Jelonch.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.
Ireland’s 2026 Six Nations FixturesFrance – Stade de France – Thursday, February 5 – 8.10pm (GMT)Italy – Aviva Stadium – Saturday, February 14 – 2.10pm (GMT)England – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday, February 21 – 2.10pm (GMT)Wales – Aviva Stadium – Friday, March 6 – 8.10pm (GMT)Scotland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday, March 14 – 2.10pm (GMT)France’s 2026 Six Nations FixturesIreland – Stade de France – Thursday, February 5 – 8.10pm (GMT)Wales – Principality Stadium – Sunday February 15 – 3.10pm (GMT)Italy – Stade Pierre Mauroy – Sunday February 22 – 3.10pm (GMT)Scotland – Murrayfield – Saturday March 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)England – Stade de France – Saturday March 14 – 8.10pm (GMT)