Ireland release 11 players for this weekend’s URC matches

Andy Farrell’s team to host an open session at the Aviva Stadium for 5,000 fans

Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad will host their first open session in two years. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad will host their first open session in two years. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Andy Farrell will assemble a squad of 27 players for a two-day camp on Thursday, which includes an open session at the Aviva Stadium for 5,000 fans, while releasing 11 players back t their provinces for this weekend's full round of URC matches.

The players who have been released to their provinces for their URC games this weekend - Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Molony (Leinster), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, Iain Henderson, James Hume and Nick Timoney (Ulster). Ross Molony joined up with the squad late last week to provide additional secondrow cover.

Robbie Henshaw will continue through the graduated return to play process this week. Andrew Porter’s training load will be managed following a rolled ankle. Tom O’Toole is continuing his rehab at Ulster.

Tickets for Thursday’s open session are no longer available, when the Ireland squad and Richie Murphy’s Ireland Under-20’s will be put through their paces at the Aviva Stadium. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Ireland squad have not been in a position to host an open session during Andy Farrell’s tenure.

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Ireland mini-camp training squad

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 35 caps
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 21 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 28 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 30 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 25 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 29 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary's College) 15 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 55 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 15 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 114 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 55 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 24 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 46 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 10 caps
Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 94 caps
Peter O'Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 82 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary's College) 103 caps (Capt)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 5 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 4 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps

Released to provinces for URC fixtures

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 66 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary's College) 30 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times