The Ireland Six Nations 2026 squad is on a high having followed up a narrow victory over Italy with a surprisingly comfortable win against England at Twickenham.

Now, ahead of Wales’ Friday night trip to Dublin, Andy Farrell has decided to mix things up, with four personnel changes in his starting XV.

At least one is injury-enforced, as Jacob Stockdale comes in for James Lowe on the wing. Up front, Tom O’Toole replaces Jeremy Loughman at loosehead, and Jack Conan (a late withdrawal against England) and Nick Timoney start in the back row. Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier drop to the bench to make way, with Tadhg Beirne taking McCarthy’s second row berth.

That means a back three of Stockdale, Jamie Osborne and Robert Baloucoune, and a centre partnership of Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey – British & Irish Lions pair Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki miss out despite their return to the squad. At fly-half, Jack Crowley is again preferred to Sam Prendergast, while Jamison Gibson-Park is set to win his 50th cap at scrum-half.

O’Toole joins Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, ahead of locks Beirne and James Ryan. Conan and Timoney join captain Caelan Doris in a reshuffled back row.

McCarthy and van der Flier are the most experienced heads on the bench, with Ciaran Frawley the only player to keep his spot from a fortnight ago. Tom Stewart, Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson provide front row cover, with Frawley, Tom Farrell and scrum-half Nathan Doak (in line for his Ireland debut) the replacement backs.

Ireland v Wales kicks off at 8.10pm GMT on Friday 6 March, with free live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player in Ireland.

• Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2026 from anywhere

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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 

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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)

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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

• Read more: Men’s Six Nations fixtures 2026

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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