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Six Nations: five Ulster players in Ireland squad to face Italy

Baloucoune, Izuchukwu and McCloskey all start

Robert Baloucoune who will start from Ireland on Saturday against Italy
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 12th Feb 2026

Five Ulster players have been named in Andy Farrell's Ireland squad to face Italy at a sold-out Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.

Robert Baloucoune (main pic), Cormac Izuchukwu and Stuart McCloskey all start while Nick Timoney and Tom O'Toole are named as replacements.

Cormac Izuchukwu who has been named in Ireland's starting line-up

Farrell said: “Saturday provides us with a great opportunity in front of a packed home crowd at Aviva Stadium. We’ve had some great battles against Italy in recent years and Saturday will be no different.

"We know we have to reach a consistently high standard and that’s the exciting challenge that awaits us.

"There has been a positive reaction in training this week and we’ll aim to keep on building into the weekend.

“In congratulating all of the 23 on their selection, I would like to single out Edwin Edogbo on his first selection for the senior team.

"A product of the club game with Cobh Pirates and UCC, he has shown real quality in his performances for Munster and in training with us over recent times. We will aim to make it a special day for Edwin, his family and all those who have played a part in his journey to date.”

Ireland (v Italy):

  1. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(11)
  1. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(4)
  1. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(70)
  1. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(24)
  1. James Lowe (Leinster)(43)
  1. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(14)
  1. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(25)
  1. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(6)
  1. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(36)
  1. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(11)
  1. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(20)
  1. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(77)
  1. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(3)
  1. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(56)
  1. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(56)

Replacements:

  1. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(44)
  1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(17)
  1. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(82)
  1. Edwin Edogbo (UCC/Munster)*
  1. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(66)
  1. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(7)
  1. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(47)
  1. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(31).