Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v Italy

There is added excitement surrounding Ireland’s first home match of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, as Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu will make their Championship debuts against a resurgent Italy, and Cobh youngster Edwin Edogbo is set to win his first cap off the bench.

2026 GUINNESS MEN’S SIX NATIONS – ROUND 2:

Saturday, February 14 –

IRELAND (5th) v ITALY (3rd), Aviva Stadium, kick-off 2.10pm (live Virgin Media One/Virgin Media Play/ITV 1/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio 5 Live/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/IRFU Live Blog)

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Team News: Ireland return home for their first 2026 Championship clash in Dublin, and head coach Andy Farrell has made six changes to the team – and a further three to the bench – from last week’s disappointing defeat away to France.

Newcomer Edogbo has impressed the Coaching Team in camp in recent weeks and earns his place in the matchday 23 for the first time, having this season returned from a long injury lay-off to score three tries in nine Munster appearances.

Jamie Osborne continues at full-back for Ireland, with Rob Baloucoune, who makes his Six Nations debut, and James Lowe selected to start on the wings. Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are retained in midfield, while Craig Casey comes in to form the half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast.

In the pack, Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson make up an unchanged front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the engine room. Cormac Izuchukwu starts at blindside flanker for his Six Nations debut in green, with captain Doris shifting to openside and Jack Conan coming in to start at number eight.

Farrell has plenty of experience to call on as Tadhg Furlong returns to fitness to be included in the Match Day 23, joining Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, the uncapped Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne and Nick Timoney as the forward replacements. Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley are the backline options, completing Ireland’s bench.

Commenting ahead of Saturday, Andy Farrell said: “Saturday provides us with a great opportunity in front of a packed home crowd at Aviva Stadium. We’ve had some great battles against Italy in recent years and Saturday will be no different. We know we have to reach a consistently high standard and that’s the exciting challenge that awaits us. There has been a positive reaction in training this week and we’ll aim to keep on building into the weekend.

“In congratulating all of the 23 on their selection, I would like to single out Edwin [Edogbo] on his first selection for the senior team. A product of the club game with Cobh Pirates and UCC, he has shown real quality in his performances for Munster and in training with us over recent times. We will aim to make it a special day for Edwin, his family and all those who have played a part in his journey to date.”

Meanwhile, unsurprisingly, Italy had coach Gonzalo Quesada has stuck with the winning formula from last week’s impressive victory over Scotland in a rain-soaked Rome. There is one enforced change as Juan Ignacio Brex is unavailable due to family reasons.

Leonardo Marin moves to outside centre to take over from Brex, which opens the way for Zebre Parma’s Lorenzo Pani to make his first Test start in almost two years. He last featured at full-back in a try-scoring performance against Wales in March 2024.

There is no place in the matchday 23 for Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo despite his return to training earlier this week after recovering from a finger injury.

No matter the result, history will be made this afternoon at the home of Irish Rugby as Scotland’s Hollie Davidson becomes the first woman to referee a Guinness Men’s Six Nations match.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

IRELAND: Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster); Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster), Garry Ringrose (UCD RFC/Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC/Ulster), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster); Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen FC/Munster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) (capt), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster).

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Edwin Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Nick Timoney (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster).

ITALY: Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma); Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Martin (Benetton Rugby), Monty Ioane (Lyon OU); Paolo Garbisi (RC Toulon), Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma); Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français Paris), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby) (capt), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby).

Replacements: Tommaso di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby), David Odiase (Zebre Parma), Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby), Paolo Odogwu (Benetton Rugby).

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Pre-Match Quotes:

Caelan Doris (Ireland) –

It’s an exciting team we’ve got tomorrow. There’s obviously a few changes, so getting cohesion through the week has been important. The message to those guys (coming into the team) is to trust themselves.

“Same with all of us really off the back of a defeat like that – doubling down on what we’re good at, doing things properly with intent, enjoying it, and enjoying it from doing things properly with intent as well.

“Creating a feeling through how we show up with actions, and it can be infectious that. But also to the new guys, it’s making sure they own it and make it feel like it’s properly theirs.

“You can’t have any passengers tomorrow, so, yeah, full ownership from everyone.”

Michele Lamaro (Italy) –

We are aware that this will be a tremendously difficult challenge, especially considering the extensive preparation time that Ireland have had this week and most importantly the result from last week.

We absolutely must prepare ourselves as best we can, and ensure that we are ready to fight a truly significant battle. However, yes, we can certainly find the consistency we desire.

We’re focusing on developing a very effective game, particularly in the scrum. The work of our forwards is building significant confidence within the team, and as a result, maintaining this confidence and applying it with exceptional precision will be prove crucial to our success in this particular area.

Pre-Match Interviews & Links –

Coming To The Match? All You Need To Know For Ireland v Italy

In Pics: ‘You Can’t Have Any Passengers’ – Doris At Captain’s Run

Opta Facts – Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v Italy

Ringrose: You Always Feel Better Facing It Head On

Fogarty: We’ll Need To Be The Best Version Of Ourselves

Ireland Men’s Squad To Hold Open Training Session At Aviva Stadium

Recent Meetings –

2023: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Italy 20 Ireland 34, Stadio Olimpico; Bank of Ireland Nations Series: Ireland 33 Italy 17, Aviva Stadium

2024: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland 36 Italy 0, Aviva Stadium

2025: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Italy 17 Ireland 22, Stadio Olimpico

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