Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will today announce his World Cup training squad.
The panel, which will contain 43-45 players, will assemble in mid-June to begin training camps leading into warm-up games in August against Italy, England and Samoa before the World Cup.
The Six Nations champions open their tournament against Romania on 9 September in Bordeaux, and also face Tonga, South Africa and Scotland in Pool B.
While the squad, which has won a series in New Zealand, secured a clean sweep in the autumn and claimed the Grand Slam, is largely settled, the varying fortunes of the provinces in the post-season may come into Farrell's selection thinking.
URC final man of the match John Hodnett (below) could be recognised for his form, while fellow Munster men Shane Daly, Calvin Nash, all three selected for the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa at the start of the season, and Jean Kleyn, who won five caps in 2019 under Joe Schmidt, have given Farrell food for thought.
Keith Earls, capped 98 times, has timed his return to fitness perfectly and while only contracted until the end of the World Cup, told RTÉ last night that he hasn’t ruled out another season.
"Who knows, who knows?" the 35-year-old said at the Munster homecoming in Thomond Park.
"I’d like to have a good pre-season and then we’ll make a decision."
Munster’s incredible run to the final came in stark contrast to the fortunes of Ulster who, after finishing second in the BKT URC table, lost their home quarter-final to Connacht.
Backs James Hume, Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale have been kicking their heels for the last three weeks, unable to let their feet do the talking.
However, McCloskey started six of Ireland’s last eight games, while Stockdale (below), the 2018 Six Nations best player, still has credit in the bank and impressed after a long spell out with injury.
Lock Kieran Treadwell played in the last match against England in March but could pay the price if Kleyn’s form is enough to earn a recall.
Tom O’Toole, who played in all five Grand Slam games, missed the end of the season through injury and John Ryan’s Super Rugby experience may see the Munster tighthead return to the fold.
Leinster, as usual, will form the bulk of the squad. Utility back Jordan Larmour is likely to be included but didn’t see any Six Nations action and missed out on the match-day squad for the Champions Cup final.
Farrell does place a big premium on loyalty but there is very little room for sentiment and there may be one or two surprises.
Original Ireland 2023 Six Nations squad
Backs (17): Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton (capt), Jacob Stockdale.
Forwards (20): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Rónan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier.
In-tournament call-ups
Backs (3): Caolin Blade, Joey Carbery, Ciarán Frawley.
Forwards (9): Michael Milne, Ross Molony, Scott Penny, Roman Salanoa, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell.
In the running: Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Robert Baloucoune, John Ryan, John Hodnett, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman.
