Rugby: Ulster's Doak named in Ireland squad for Summer tour

Ulster's Nathan Doak is in line to win his first Ireland cap on this Summer's tour to Georgia and Portugal.

The 23-year-old is one of seven Ulster player's included amongst the 32-strong squad for the matches in July.

He joins club-mates Comac Izuchukwu, Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale in the squad named by interim Head Coach Paul O'Connell.

James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward have been included as training panellists. If called up to the squad, the Ulster trio could also earn their first Senior Irish appearance.

Without the international players who are involved with the British and Irish Lions for their tour to Australia, O'Connell, standing in for Simon Easterby who forms part of Andy Farrell's backroom staff, will also be without three experienced campaigners for the trip.

Ulster pair Iain Henderson and Rob Herring aren't included due to their recent return from long-term injuries, while Leinster's Robbie Henshaw is also out through with his own injury issues.

Stockdale, with 38 international caps, isthe second most experienced player in a squad that includes 11 uncapped players. Connacht's Finlay Bealham leads the way on 51, while Munster's Craig Casey has been named as captain for the tour.

Ireland play Georgia in Tblisi's Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Saturday July 5 at 6pm Irish time, before facing Portugal at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon at 7pm on Saturday July 12th.

Ireland Men's Squad for 2025 Summer Tour

Forwards (18): Tom Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster)(27), Finlay Bealham (Connacht)(51), Jack Boyle (Leinster)(2), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster)(6), Gavin Coombes (Munster)(2), Max Deegan (Leinster)(2), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster)(1), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster)(4), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O’Toole (Ulster)(16), Cian Prendergast (Connacht)(4), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster)(2), Nick Timoney (Ulster)(3)

Backs: Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster)(Captain)(18) Jack Crowley (Munster)(24), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)(19), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Calvin Nash (Munster)(10), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster)(8), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster)*, Jamie Osborne (Leinster)(7), Sam Prendergast (Leinster)(8), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)(38)

Training Panellists: James McNabney (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster)*

*denotes uncapped player