Ireland Six Nations 2026 squad: Farrell makes three changes to starting line-up for visit of Scotland

The Ireland Six Nations 2026 squad still have an outside chance of winning this year’s title, and Andy Farrell has named a strong side to face Scotland in Super Saturday’s Triple Crown decider.

He welcomes a pair of British & Irish Lions back into the XV, as Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier return to the starting line-up after kicking off last week’s game against Wales on the bench. Tommy O’Brien is selected on the wing in place of Jacob Stockdale.

The front row comprises Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while McCarthy starts alongside Tadhg Beirne in the second row. James Ryan misses out with a calf injury.

Van der Flier joins Jack Conan and captain Caelan Doris in the back row.

In the backs, O’Brien lines up next to Jamie Osborne and Robert Baloucoune, outside a centre partnership of Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey. At fly-half, Jack Crowley is again preferred to Sam Prendergast, while Jamison Gibson-Park is back at fly-half.

Farrell has opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, where he brings back hooker Rónan Kelleher. He’s joined by fellow forward replacements Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray and Nick Timoney. Backs cover is provided by Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and, making his first appearance in a matchday squad this championship, Bundee Aki.

Ireland v Scotland kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 14 March, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.

Ireland Six Nations team v Scotland – round 5

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Tommy O’Brien
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Tom O’Toole
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Michael Milne
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Darragh Murray
20. Nick Timoney
21. Craig Casey
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Bundee Aki

Ireland Six Nations team v Wales – round 4

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Tom O’Toole
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack Conan
7. Nick Timoney
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart
17. Michael Milne
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Nathan Doak
22. Tom Farrell
23. Ciaran Frawley

Ireland Six Nations team v England – round 3

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Tom O’Toole
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Nick Timoney 
20. Cian Prendergast
21. Craig Casey
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Tommy O’Brien

Ireland Six Nations team v Italy – round 2

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Craig Casey

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Cormac Izuchukwu
7. Caelan Doris (captain)
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Tom O’Toole
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Edwin Edogbo
20. Tadhg Beirne
21. Nick Timoney 
22. Jamison Gibson-Park
23. Jack Crowley 

Ireland Six Nations team v France – round 1

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Cian Prendergast
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Michael Milne
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick Timoney 
22. Craig Casey 
23. Jack Crowley 

Ireland Six Nations squad: Farrell’s 37-man squad

Forwards (20): Tom Ahern (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs (18): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

Ireland Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

• Thu 5 February, France v Ireland (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 14 February, Ireland v Italy (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
• Fri 6 March, Ireland v Wales (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 14 March, Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK

Ireland Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v England (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-22 England 

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Ryan Baird
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Iain Henderson
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Robbie Henshaw

Round 2: v Scotland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Result: Scotland 18-32 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Calvin Nash
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Garry Ringrose

Round 3: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Result: Wales 18-27 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan (captain)
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Ryan Baird
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Bundee Aki

Round 4: v France (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-42 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jamie Osborne
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Calvin Nash
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Ryan Baird
22. Conor Murray
23. Jack Crowley

Round 5: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)

Result: Italy 17 – 22 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Peter O’Mahony
21. Conor Murray
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Bundee Aki