The Ireland squad gathered in Carton House today as they begin their preparations for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championship. There is one change to the squad announced last week and a medical update on some of the players after the weekend’s action.
Versatile Connacht prop Finlay Bealham has been called up to the squad in place of Martin Moore who tore his hamstring during Leinster’s European Champions Cup clash with Wasps. Moore will be sidelined for between six and eight weeks as a result of the injury.
The 24-year-old Bealham was born in Australia and qualifies for Ireland through his grandmother who is from Enniskillen. He has played for the Ireland Under-20s and Emerging Ireland, helping the latter win the Tbilisi Cup in Georgia last June.
The Connacht Academy graduate has played in every one of the province’s 18 games so far this season, including six appearances in the European Challenge Cup. He penned a two-year deal with Connacht last January.
Bealham’s inclusion in the Ireland squad brings the number of uncapped players to five, alongside his Connacht team-mate Ultan Dillane, Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), CJ Stander (Munster) and Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Meanwhile, out-half Jonathan Sexton, who was withdrawn early on against Wasps, has passed both head injury assessment (HIA) 1 and 2 and will complete HIA 3 tomorrow.
Centre Robbie Henshaw has suffered no ill-effects after playing for Connacht in Saturday’s bonus point win over Enisei-STM in the Challenge Cup.
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