Andy Farrell announced his squad for the Autumn Nations Series today, with the men in green set to take on the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia throughout November. Farrell has made a handful of key changes to his squad, beginning with the appointment of a new captain in back row Caelan Doris. The Leinster man comes in to replace Peter O’Mahony, with the Munster stalwart continuing his injury rehabilitation with the squad.
Farrell has named two uncapped players amongst his 35-man contingent, with an additional five players gaining valuable national camp environment as ‘training panellists’. Whilst the five young guns are not expected to garner any game time for Ireland this Autumn, their inclusion within the national set-up indicates that they are highly regarded amongst Farrell’s future plans. The five young players named as training panellists are:
Thomas Clarkson (Leinster, Prop), Alex Kendellen (Munster, Flanker), Shayne Bolton (Connacht, Wing) Jack Boyle (Leinster, Prop), and Gus McCarthy (Leinster, Hooker).
The two uncapped players that have been named amongst the official players group are Ulster lock Cormac Izuchukwu and Leinster fly half Sam Prendergast. Following the news of their inclusion in Andy Farrell’s group, we have found out more about these two players, that Ireland fans could well see make their maiden Test cap next month.
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster Rugby)
Cormac Izuchukwu’s professional rugby career could look quite different had fate gone a different way, as the young lock was offered a trial with Connacht Rugby as he was progressing through his school years. However, a twisted ankle curtailed any plans of heading to Galway, with Izuchukwu promptly snapped up by Ulster, after a brief stint up in Scotland gaining senior rugby experience with Kelso RFC.
Izuchukwu is a versatile forward, capable of playing across the locks and in the back row. At 6ft 7″ Izuchukwu is instantly spotted, as he towers over the majority of his teammates, which makes him an excellent asset to dominate the areal set-piece. The lock made his Ulster debut in the 2020 Pro14 season, as he shot off the bench in a 12th round win against Glasgow Warriors. He would go on to make his first start for the club just a month later, as Ulster demolished Zebre Parma at the Kingspan. Izuchukwu has since racked up 31 Ulster caps, as he seraches for his Ireland Test debut.
Sam Prendergast (Leinster Rugby)
Sam Prendergast will be reuniting with his brother Cian in the Ireland camp, as the Leinster young gun joins his Ireland-capped sibling this Autumn. Unlike Connacht’s back-row battler, Sam Prendergast shines in the back line as a fly half, having come through the ranks of the province alongside representing Dublin club Lansdowne RFC. Sam Prendergast made his Leinster debut in 2023, as he started in his side’s Round 17 win against the Emirates Lions out in South Africa. Prendergast nailed four conversions and two penalties on his debut, which set the tone for his professional career.
The 21-year-old starred for Ireland U20s in their 2023 U20 Six Nations winning Grand Slam, as the first choice 10 for the pathway side. Prendergast would return to South Africa for the 2023 U20 World Championships, as Ireland claimed victories over Australia, Fiji and the young Springboks. The 2023/24 season was Prendergast’s breakthrough with Leinster, as he made 16 appearances for the Dubliners, and scored his first try for the club (against Scarlets). Prendergast is off the mark for the new URC season, with four well taken conversions coming in Leinster’s win over Edinburgh back in Round One.
