Ireland have reported a fully-fit squad for Saturday’s Bank of Ireland Nations Series clash with Italy at the Aviva Stadium.
Head coach Andy Farrell named a 42-man training squad at the end of May in preparation for the World Cup in September and the players have regathered at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin.
Irish Rugby said: “The Ireland squad have stepped up their preparations ahead of Saturday night’s opening game of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series at Aviva Stadium against Italy (8pm).
“In team news, all players reported into camp on Sunday evening and are available for selection for the Bank of Ireland Nations Series.”
After their first warm-up match against Italy, Ireland will play England at Aviva Stadium (August 19) and Samoa in Bayonne (August 26) before their opening World Cup group game against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
Captain Johnny Sexton will miss the warm-up fixtures due to a three-match ban, but will be available for their opening World Cup fixture.
The 38-year-old fly-half admitted to a misconduct charge following his row with referee Jaco Peyper at the end of Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle in May, in which he did not play.
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) July 31, 2023