Rob Kearney is among the notable absentees as new Ireland head coach Andy Farrell named his first training squad.
The "24 hour mid-season stocktake" takes place from December 22nd to 23rd at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre in Dublin.
Farrell has named 45 players but with notable omissions.
Ireland and Leinster veteran Rob Kearney misses out in the most high-profile decision. So too does Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion, who had also been left out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad.
Leinster hooker Sean Cronin is also absent from the list.
The Ireland coaching group will host a 24hr mid-season stocktake at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre in Dublin across the 22nd and 23rd December ahead of a busy period of interprovincial and European fixtures. #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/QK2CkEE6TU
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) December 16, 2019
But unlike Marmion, Leinster second-row Devin Toner returns after his World Cup omission. And there are also new additions too.
In-form Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher makes the cut among eight previously uncapped players. That includes Leinster's Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson Park, Max Deegan and Will Connors. Connacht scrum-half Caolin Blade and Ulster's Billy Burns and Tom O'Toole are the other uncapped selections.
Training Squad
With Ireland's first Six Nations match taking place on February 1st against Scotland, the 24 hour "stocktake" gives Farrell valuable time with his squad before he names a panel for the 2020 Championship.
"We have limited opportunities across the busy provincial season to bring a broad group like this together. But this 24hr window will allow us to plant a few seeds. It will also give the coaches a better insight into a few players who been performing consistently well for their provinces," he said.
"The next six weeks is the window for players to put their hands up for selection for our first squad which will be named in late January ahead of the 6 Nations.”
Connacht:
Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Ultan Dillane, Dave Heffernan, Quinn Roux
Leinster:
Ross Byrne, Will Connors, Max Deegan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Jamison Gibson Park, Cian Healy, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Ronan Kelleher, Jordan Larmour, Luke McGrath, Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose, Rhys Ruddock, James Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Devin Toner, Josh van der Flier
Munster:
Joey Carbery, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Mike Haley, Dave Kilcoyne, Jean Kleyn, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony, Niall Scannell, Rory Scannell, CJ Stander
Ulster:
Will Addison, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Marty Moore, Tom O’Toole, Jacob Stockdale
Everyone’s in the Team Of Us.
Vodafone. The Official Sponsor of the Irish Rugby Team.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
