Three Ireland stars available again as two more face fitness race

Ireland have confirmed that Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Mack Hansen are set to return for their final match of the Guinness Six Nations against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Furlong has seemingly been on the cusp of returning from a calf injury all Championship, but is yet to make an appearance. Hansen has also been dogged by injuries this year, featuring in round one and three but missing the round two encounter with Scotland with a hamstring injury and the recent loss to France due to a quad complaint. Ringrose, meanwhile, missed the defeat to Les Bleus as he served a ban.

Simon Easterby will also hope to have James Lowe and Ronan Kelleher available by the end of the week.

Lowe was late withdrawal ahead of the France match after injuring his back in the warm-up, while a neck injury has kept Kelleher out of action since the round two victory over Scotland. Ireland have confirmed that a decision will be made on their availability at the end of the week.

Fixture

Six Nations

Italy

17 - 22

Full-time

Ireland

All Stats and Data

After making their final home appearance for Ireland in round four before retiring from Test rugby, Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony have all been named in Ireland’s 38-man squad for a swansong in Rome.

With their match being first on Saturday, Ireland can climb to the top of the Championship table before England face Wales and France bring the curtain down on the tournament when they host Scotland.

Ireland squad
Forwards
Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Rónan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier

Backs
Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale