Casey captain as Ireland pick 11 uncapped players

Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak is 1 of 11 uncapped players successful Ireland's squad for July's matches pinch Georgia and Portugal.

The inclusion of 15 Ireland internationals successful Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad has opened nan doorway for a ample number of hopefuls to beryllium selected for nan summertime series.

Paul O'Connell will lead Ireland successful nan absence of Lions coaches Farrell and Simon Easterby, and Munster scrum-half Craig Casey, 26, is group to skipper nan squad for nan first time.

Tom Ahern, Michael Milne, Shayne Bolton, Ben Murphy and Tommy O'Brien person each had acquisition successful nan elder situation but person yet to beryllium capped astatine that level.

Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin are nan different imaginable debutants and person earned call-ups aft impressing successful nan United Rugby Championship and nan Emerging Ireland squad, which toured South Africa successful September.

After missing retired connected Lions selection, Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast are group to conflict it retired for nan starting fly-half jersey.

Such is nan youthful quality of Ireland's 32-strong squad, prop Finlay Bealham and centre Stuart McCloskey are nan only players successful it complete nan property of 30.

McCloskey and Doak subordinate team-mates prop Tom O'Toole, hooker Tom Stewart, versatile guardant Cormac Izuchukwu, backmost statement Nick Timoney and helping Jacob Stockdale successful nan squad.

The Ulster trio of James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward person been included arsenic training panellists, but hooker Rob Herring and 2nd statement Iain Henderson person not been named arsenic they person precocious returned from injury.

Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw has missed retired connected action aft being sidelined done injury.

O'Connell, who won 108 Ireland caps arsenic a player, said nan circuit "presents an opportunity" for fringe players to impressment nan coaching set-up.

"I judge we person a beardown blend of younker and acquisition for what will beryllium a travel into comparatively uncharted territories this July," he said.

"A number of players person been really adjacent to action successful caller times and it's important that everyone grasps nan situation that's up of them.

"Every infinitesimal connected nan training section and crossed nan two-match bid will count and there's a awesome opportunity for players to measurement up and impress."

O'Connell added that Georgia person made "great strides" successful caller years and he is expecting "a reliable test" pinch Portugal, who Ireland will look for nan first time.

He added that scrum-half Casey warranted his action arsenic skipper for nan tour.

"He is simply a existent leader pinch a beardown characteristic and it is simply a immense individual honour for him," O'Connell added.

"It's an opportunity that I cognize he will relish complete nan coming weeks."

Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster).

Backs: Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Training panellists: James McNabney (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

Fixtures

Saturday, 5 July: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick disconnected 18:00 BST)

Saturday, 12 July: Portugal v Ireland, Estadio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon (kick disconnected 19:00 BST)