SIX NATIONS: Ireland squad update ahead of Italy clash

The Ireland coaching team have issued a squad update ahead of their third fixture in this year's Six Nations Championship.

Andy Farrell's side, who travel to Rome to face Italy this Saturday (Kick-off 2.15pm), will be targeting Grand Slam glory following victories over Wales and France so far.

A 37-man squad has been assembled for this weekend's Six Nations contest with Munster's Joey Carbery being added to the panel to provide cover for Ireland captain Johnny Sexton - who continues his rehab this week.

Cian Healy and Dan Sheehan are also included having come through their individual hamstring rehab programmes.

Meanwhile, Tadhg Beirne will miss the rest of the tournament after being ruled out for up to 12 weeks. He has had ankle surgery after being forced off early in the second half against France.

Fellow second row Joe McCarthy has also been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations campaign due to an ankle injury.

McCarthy’s Leinster team-mate, flanker Scott Penny, and Ulster second row Kieran Treadwell have been added to the squad, but versatile back Keith Earls remains sidelined due to a calf problem.

Jamison Gibson Park, Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong remain injured and hooker Rob Herring is continuing his return to play protocol after sustaining a head injury against France.

ℹ️ The latest from Ireland camp as the squad build towards Saturday's clash in Rome.#TeamOfUs | #GuinnessSixNations

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 20, 2023

Full squad below:

Backs (17)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 43 caps

Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) 1 cap

Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 16 caps

Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 37 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 9 caps

Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 2 caps

Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 10 caps

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 27 caps

Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Marys College) 30 caps

James Lowe (Leinster) 17 caps

Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 11 caps

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 102 caps

Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 3 caps

Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)*

Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 111 caps (c)

Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 35 caps

Forwards (20)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 29 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 35 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 25 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 121 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 70 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 33 caps

Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 19 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 50 caps

Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 91 caps

Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 6 caps

Scott Penny (Leinster/UCD)*

Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps

Cian Prendergast (Connacht/Corinthians) 1 cap

James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps

Roman Salanoa (Munster/Shannon)*

Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps

Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 10 caps

Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps

*denotes uncapped player