Ireland call-ups for uncapped pair McNabney and Benson

Updated / Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 15:55

Uncapped Ulster pair James McNabney and Jamie Benson have both been included in Ireland's squad for next month's Nations Championship games, with Jack Conan ruled out due to injury.

Conan, who picked up a shoulder injury in Leinster's 48-23 win away to Clermont Auvergne last weekend, will miss the four-game November window, with Harry Byrne, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, and Bryn Ward among those who also miss out due to injury.

Utility back Benson, who joined Ulster from Harlequins this summer, has made four appearances for Richie Murphy's side this season between centre and out-half, and the versatile former England Under-20 international can also cover full-back.

McNabney (23), who has previously been involved with Ireland squads as a training panellist, is named in the squad by Farrell after impressing on his return from an ACL injury, which saw him miss out on the entire 2025/26 campaign.

"It's always great to give people a chance for the first time," head coach Andy Farrell said.

"Jamie Benson came into camp with us in the summer before we went away, so it was great to get to know him and see what he's all about. But he started the season really well in a few different positions for Ulster, so that shows his versatility.

"And James McNabney as well. We had him into camp on the 31st of August where we had an alignment camp, and that just goes to show that we've been interested in him for a while.

"He's some specimen of a man and he certainly runs his weight.

"So, exciting to get those two boys in, but also to make sure that we keep progressing with the lads that had a lot of firsts over the last 18 months."

Dan Sheehan (above) will once again captain Ireland in the absence of Doris, one of 17 Leinster players in the 36-man squad, with nine Ulster representatives, eight from Connacht, and just two from Munster – Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey.

Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Tommy O'Brien are among those included once again after missing out on the summer fixtures with Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Andy Farrell's side begin the second half of their Nations Championship campaign against Argentina on Friday, 6 November (8.10pm), before welcoming Fiji to Dublin on Saturday, 14 November (8.10pm).

Ireland then take on South Africa at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 21 November (4.40pm), with the Nations Championship Finals Weekend taking place a week later at the Allianz Stadium in London.

Meanwhile, the IRFU has also confirmed that an Ireland XV side will play three games between now and the end of February, starting with a fixture against Fiji A in Cork next month.

The Ireland development side will take on a Fijian selection at Virgin Media Park on Friday, 20 November, with Ulster assistant Mark Sexton appointed head coach of the team for the season.

The Ireland XV is also scheduled for two games during the Six Nations window, facing Chile at Queen's University, Belfast, on 12 February, before taking on England A in Exeter on 20 February.

Sexton will be assisted by Munster's Jimmy Duffy and Jared Payne, while Seamus Toomey will serve as scrum coach.

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Ireland squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (captain), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Jamie Benson, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale.

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