Andy Farrell and the coaching team have named a 37 man squad for the Vodafone Summer Series which features two Tests in July against Japan and the USA at the Aviva Stadium. The match against Japan on Saturday 3^rd July will kick off at 1.00pm and the fixture against the USA on Saturday 10^th July will kick off at 7.15pm. Both fixtures are part of the government’s outdoor pilot sport event programme which will see limited supporters back in the Aviva Stadium. James Ryan will captain the squad during the Vodafone Summer Series and there are 11 uncapped players named – Robert Baloucoune, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney (Ulster), Caolin Blade, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle (Connacht), Harry Byrne, Peter Dooley, Ross Molony (Leinster), Gavin Coombes, Fineen Wycherley (Munster). Andy Farrell, Ireland head coach, said, “We now have two games at home to focus on which will be a good challenge for the group.  Japan played the Sunwolves at the weekend and will play the Lions the week before we play at the Aviva Stadium and we know the quality of their squad from the World Cup. We will assemble as a squad on the 22^nd June and begin our preparations for the two games.

I know the players will come in eager to make the most of this opportunity to pull on the green jersey and play in front of supporters for at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in 18 months. Johnny (Sexton), Cian (Healy) and Keith (Earls) will not be involved in this window as we grow the experience of other players.   It will be a great opportunity to see can this group perform at this level.”

Both games will be broadcast live by RTE (ROI) and Channel 4 (NI).

Ireland Squad - Vodafone Summer Series

Backs (17)

Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps

Forwards (20)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps Paul Boyle (Connacht/Buccaneers) uncapped Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped Selected for British & Irish Lions Tour: Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Andrew Porter (inj)

Vodafone Summer Series

IRELAND v Japan Saturday 3^rd July, 2021 Aviva Stadium KO: 13.00hrs Broadcaster: RTE & Channel 4 IRELAND v USA Saturday 10^th July, 2021 Aviva Stadium KO: 19.15hrs Broadcaster: RTE & Channel 4