Connacht winger Mack Hansen will train with the Ireland squad this week as the group focuses in on Saturday's Autumn Nations Series clash with Japan at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 1pm). Robbie Henshaw will continue his rehab programme under the direction of the Ireland medical team. Thomas Ahern (Munster) and Jamie Osbourne (Leinster) have returned to their respective provinces having trained with the squad last week. The Ireland v New Zealand fixture on Saturday, 13th November is sold out while tickets remain available for both the Japan and Argentina games. In July the Ireland v Japan Vodafone Summer Series fixture was part of a pilot programme to see the return of spectators to outdoor sporting events. 3,000 supporters got to witness a nine try thriller as Ireland ran out 39-31 victors and Gavin Coombes earned his first cap. Saturday's Test at Aviva Stadium is the tenth meeting between the two nations. Ireland have won nine of the contests with Japan claiming the spoils with a deserved 19-12 victory in Shizuoka at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

IRELAND Autumn Nations Series Squad 2021

Backs (19) Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 1 cap Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 3 caps Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)* Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps Mack Hansen (Connacht)* James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 6 caps Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps CAPTAIN Simon Zebo (Munster/Cork Constitution) 35 caps Forwards (20) Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 5 caps Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 19 caps Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 1 cap Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)* Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps *denotes uncapped player

Autumn Nations Series 2021

IRELAND v Japan Aviva Stadium , Saturday 6th November, 2021 IRELAND v New Zealand Aviva Stadium , Saturday 13th November, 2021 IRELAND v Argentina Aviva Stadium , Sunday 21st November, 2021