Ulster’s Jamie Benson and James McNabney have been named in Ireland’s squad for the November Nations Championship matches, earning their first call-ups to the national team. Benson, 24, who joined Ulster from Harlequins in the summer, qualifies to play for Ireland through his Belfast-born mother. McNabney, a 23-year-old back row, returns after a year out with an ACL injury.
Benson has mostly played at centre for Ulster but is also capable of playing fly-half. His inclusion comes despite his short time with the province and a previous international youth career with England Under-20s. McNabney had been involved in Ireland’s training groups before and made his return to action this summer.
The squad also sees the return of several players who missed the summer Tests, including prop Andrew Porter, forward Ryan Baird, and wings Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien. Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, who has not appeared for Leinster this season, has also been selected.
Head coach Andy Farrell faces a lengthy injury list. Captain Caelan Doris, fly-half Jack Crowley, Jack Boyle, Harry Byrne, Jack Conan, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash, and Bryn Ward are all sidelined. In Doris’s absence, Leinster teammate Dan Sheehan has been appointed captain.
Ulster’s Zac Ward and Cormac Izuchukwu, along with Munster prop Jeremy Loughman, were not selected. Farrell’s squad will face Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 6 November, followed by Fiji on 14 November, and world champions South Africa on 21 November. The Nations Championship finals will take place the following week at London’s Allianz Stadium.
Ireland began the Nations Championship with wins over Australia and Japan but lost to New Zealand in their third summer Test. Farrell’s squad aims to build on those results despite the injury challenges. The inclusion of Benson and McNabney adds fresh options in both the backs and forwards as Ireland prepare for a demanding autumn schedule.
According to Yahoo Sports.
