O’Connell Includes Six Uncapped Players In Squad To Face Georgia

Interim head coach Paul O’Connell has announced the Ireland Men’s team to play Georgia in Saturday’s summer tour match at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi (kick-off 9pm local time/6pm Irish time – live on Virgin Media One & Virgin Media Play).

There are two new caps in the starting XV, and a further four uncapped players on the replacements bench.

Craig Casey will lead the team for the first time, becoming the 112th Ireland Test captain since 1875. He is the third scrum-half to captain Ireland in the professional era after Niall Hogan (three times) and Eoin Reddan (once).

Casey forms a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast, with Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne set to link up in midfield. it will be Osborne’s sixth international start, and his first in the number 13 jersey.

Fresh from Leinster’s BKT United Rugby Championship success, winger Tommy O’Brien will make his debut in a back-three which includes his provincial colleague, Jimmy O’Brien, and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale who is set to earn his 39th international cap.

Stockdale needs one more try to become the 21st Irish player to score 100 points for Ireland, and be the first to do it since Jack Crowley.

It would also see him become Ireland’s outright sixth leading try scorer of all-time. The 29-year-old currently shares that position with Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy.

The second starting debutant, Connacht’s Darragh Murray # (see note below) forms a second row partnership with Cormac Izuchukwu, who makes his second Test start, and first at lock after his debut in the back row against Fiji last November.

Jack Boyle, hooker Gus McCarthy, and Thomas Clarkson combine in the front row, with loosehead Boyle making his first start at this level, and his Leinster colleagues, McCarthy and Clarkson, set for their second starts for Ireland.

Nick Timoney and Gavin Coombes, whose most recent Test appearances were in 2022 and 2021 respectively, join in-form blindside flanker Ryan Baird in an exciting back row trio.

There are four more potential debutants on Ireland’s bench, namely Munster forwards Michael Milne and Tom Ahern, and Connacht’s Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy. The quartet are joined by Tom Stewart, Cian Prendergast, and Calvin Nash.

Looking forward to the tour opener in Tbilisi, which is Ireland’s 764th Test match of all-time, O’Connell said: “I have been impressed by the application of the squad ahead of this two-Test tour, and Saturday’s game presents an exciting opportunity for this group of players.

“To Craig (Casey), I would like to congratulate him on his first game as captain. He has taken to captaincy impressively. He’s going to relish leading his country, and I know how keen he is to make his mark alongside the rest of the players.

This weekend is also an extra special one for six players who are set to make their international debuts.

“To Tommy and Darragh, who get the chance to start, as well as the four others who will be ready to make their mark from the bench, I wish them well. The squad are determined to make it a memorable occasion for them and their families.

“Although light in terms of international caps in some areas, there’s also a nice blend of experience in the squad.”

IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Georgia, 2025 Summer Tour Test Match, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Saturday, July 5, kick-off 9pm local time/6pm Irish time):

Player/Club/Province/Caps –

15. Jimmy O’Brien (Naas RFC/Leinster) 8
14. Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster) *
13. Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster) 7
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC/Ulster) 19
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan RFC/Ulster) 38
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) 8
9. Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster) (capt) 18
1. Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster) 2
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster) 4
3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University FC/Leinster) 6
4. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) 1
5. Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht) *
6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster) 27
7. Nick Timoney (Banbridge RFC/Ulster) 3
8. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster RFC/Munster) 2

Replacements:

16. Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) 2
17. Michael Milne (UCD RFC/Munster) *
18. Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht) *
19. Tom Ahern (Shannon RFC/Munster) *
20. Cian Prendergast (UCD RFC/Connacht) 4
21. Ben Murphy (Clontarf FC/Connacht) *
22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster) 24
23. Calvin Nash (Young Munster RFC/Munster) 10

* Denotes uncapped player

Note on Cap Numbers –

As determined by alphabetical sequence (by surname), Murray # will be Ireland Men’s cap number 1,169, with Tommy O’Brien in line to become cap number 1,170.

With four players in line to make their debuts off the bench on Saturday, the next official cap number will be determined by the player who comes on first. If more than one debutant comes on at the same time, then the next cap number will be determined in alphabetical order by surname.

# Pronounced ‘Muh-Ray’