Caelan Doris has been named as captain of the Ireland team by head coach Andy Farrell for their four-match Autumn Nations Series campaign. Farrell, who will temporarily step aside after the series, to concentrate on his leading role with the British and Irish Lions, has again included the uncapped duo of Cormac Izuchukwu and Sam Prendergast in the 35-man squad. Both players featured for Emerging Ireland in Bloemfontein last month and were also part of Farrell’s summer tour squad to South Africa, which has largely been retained en bloc save for the injured Dan Sheehan, Oli Jager and Jimmy O’Brien, while the unlucky Jack Conan has again not been named after picking up a hamstring injury in Leinster’s win over Munster. Peter O’Mahony is included in the extended panel and will continue his rehabilitation with Munster next week as he builds towards a return to action over the coming weeks.
The fit-again Mack Hansen returns, after missing the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, as does Hugo Keenan after his foray into the Ireland Olympics Sevens campaign. Rónan Kelleher, also a doubt for the opening game against New Zealand, is one of three hookers named along with Rob Herring, who has yet to play for Ulster this season, and the in-form Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan, who was called up in South Africa as a replacement for Sheehan.
Doris, who was recently appointed Leinster captain, said: ‘‘It is an enormous honur to be named Ireland captain and I am excited about leading the squad into battle over the coming weeks. I am extremely proud to lead this squad. We have a special group of players and I am confident that there are bright days to come as we build up for four huge Tests at the Aviva.’’
The Irish squad are in Portugal this week for warm-weather training and they will begin the Autumn series against the All-Blacks on Friday, Nov. 8, with an 8.10 p.m. kick off, then Argentina on Nov, 15, Fiji on Nov. 23 and ending with a game against Australia to celebrate the IRFU’s 150th anniversary on Nov. 30.
Farrell resume his duties with Ireland in August 2025.
BRENNAN PICKED
IN FRANCE’S 42
Dublin-born Joshua Brennan could make his France debut next month, with the Toulouse forward named in a 42-man squad for their Autumn Nations Series campaign by head coach Fabien Galthie. Brennan, son of former Ireland international Trevor, was born in Ireland but has lived most of his life in France after his father joined Toulouse in 2002. The 22-year-old played under 20 rugby for France in 2020 and 2021 and now looks set to be involved for Les Bleus, who face Japan, New Zealand and Argentina in the Autumn internationals.
IRISH TO BEGIN
W.C. VS. JAPAN
The Irish Women’s Rugby team will open the 2025 Rugby World Cup campaign at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, on Aug. 24 against Japan. Scott Bemand’s team will also take on defending champions New Zealand and Spain in the tournament, having recently shocked the Black Ferns in a WXV1 clash in Vancouver. The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament, with Ireland returning to the game’s biggest international competition having failed to qualify for the 2021 edition.
The four quarter-finals will be split between Ashton Gate, Bristol and Exeter's Sandy Park, with Ashton Gate also staging both semi-finals before Twickenham hosts the final on Sept. 27. All games take place across six weekends, with the majority having afternoon kick-off times, and teams will have a minimum of six days between fixtures to optimize player welfare and team performance. Supporters will be able to purchase tickets from Nov. 5.
Irish fixtures: Aug 24: Ireland v Japan, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton; Aug. 31 Ireland v Spain, Franklin’s Gardens; Sept. 7 Ireland v New Zealand, Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium.
CABINET BACKS EFFORT
TO SECURE BRITISH OPEN
The Irish government recently published a new government policy and strategy framework for the hosting of major international sports events. And now a bid to secure The British Open Golf and the Women’s Open Championships for Portmarnock has taken a significant step forward with the Cabinet’s rubber-stamping of an agreement to support the effort. Both championships are run by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, based at St Andrews in Scotland. A recent cost analysis of the benefits of hosting the championships at Portmarnock estimated an economic injection of almost €340 million to the Irish economy. The government’s commitment to support securing the championships, which will also involve considerable infrastructural assistance, will involve an outlay of between €35 million and €40 million. The Open, which will be staged at Royal Portrush in County Antrim next year, having returned to the roster in 2019 when Shane Lowry triumphed, is golf’s oldest Major championship. But a decision to bring it to Portmarnock, an initiative which has the support of the R&A, would mean it would be staged outside of Britain or Northern Ireland for the first time. A timeline of 2031 or potentially 2032 is understood to be the guide period for The Open, with additional course work, with a potential rerouting adjustment of the famed links expected to take place.
5-TIMES MEDALIST
MULCAHY RETIRES
Five-time Limerick All-Ireland winning hurler Graeme Mulcahy has announced his inter-county retirement. The 34-year-old forward spent 16 seasons in the green and white, making his debut in 2009 as a substitute against Kilkenny in the Allianz League before going on to win five All-Ireland medals, seven Munster titles, three Allianz Leagues and an All-Star in 2018. The Kilmallock clubman said: “After 16 seasons, I have decided that the time is right for me to announce my retirement from inter county hurling,” the Kilmallock clubman said in a statement released through Limerick GAA’s official website. “The highlight of my playing career was undoubtedly being a part of the team that ended the 45-year wait to bring the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Limerick.’’
LEINSTER TO RETAIN
HEAD COACH CULLEN
It’s a measure of the value placed on Leo Cullen within Leinster and by the IRFU that he is set to extend his tenure as the province’s head coach into a dozen seasons. Having taken over from Matt O’Connor before the start of the 2015-16 campaign. Cullen, who is 46, has agreed a new two-year contract extension to keep him in the role until the end of the 2026-27 season.
LOSING FINALISTS
NEED NEW MANAGER
Women’s FAI Cup finalists Athlone Town are looking for a new manager after Ciaran Kilduff quit hours after their 6-1 defeat to Shelbourne in the final at Tallaght Stadium on Oct. 20. The 36 year-old Kildare native played for various League of Ireland clubs prior to taking over as Athlone manager last year. Prior to the FAI Cup final Kilduff guided the Westmeath club to their first-ever Women’s Premier Division title last month. And Peamount United are also looking for a new manager after James Callaghan quit after eight years in charge of the West County Dublin club. Callaghan replaced current Irish manager Eileen Gleeson as Peamount manager in 2014 and led them to three League titles.
SHARK SENTENCE
REDUCED TO 6 MOS.
Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon has had his 10-month suspension over an incident in which he transported a dead horse in public view reduced to six months following an appeal, with the possibility of serving just three months if he adheres to requirements set out by the Irish Horse Racing Board (IHRB). Explaining the decision to reduce the penalty, the IHRB appeals body said the lack of respect demonstrated in the matter was not deliberate or wilful and allowed the reduction of the punishment. Trainer Edward O’Grady attended the appeal and spoke in defence of Hanlon, describing the suspension as ‘draconian,’ as Hanlon was ‘‘an agricultural man going about agricultural business.’’
