Caelan Doris to captain Ireland in Autumn Nations Series

Caelan Doris has been named captain of Ireland for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series which will kick-off with a clash against New Zealand on 8th November.

Doris, a standout back-row forward, takes over the captaincy from Peter O'Mahony, who is included in the squad despite currently recovering from a hamstring injury.

Doris, who previously captained Ireland to a Six Nations victory over Italy and a second Test win against South Africa earlier this year, expressed his pride in leading the team for the November fixtures. After facing the All Blacks, Ireland will host Argentina and Fiji, concluding the series against Australia.

This leadership role positions Doris as a strong contender for the British and Irish Lions captaincy for the 2025 tour of Australia. He will be supported by a group of experienced leaders within the squad as they aim for success in the upcoming matches.

While Doris takes the helm, Ireland’s regular captain Peter O'Mahony and hooker Ronan Kelleher have both been named in the squad despite ongoing injury concerns.

O'Mahony is working through a hamstring issue, and Kelleher has recently recovered from an ankle injury. However, first-choice hooker Dan Sheehan is absent due to an ACL injury, and back-row forward Jack Conan also misses out through injury.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has also included two uncapped players in the 35-man squad: Cormac Izuchukwu, an Ulster lock, and Sam Prendergast, Leinster’s promising young fly-half, both of whom featured for Emerging Ireland recently.

"The challenge that awaits us this November is one of the toughest we could face," said Farrell.

"There is a blend of youth and experience, but all of the players are selected on merit carried from their form in recent months from the summer tour, the early rounds of the URC [United Rugby Championship] and at the Emerging Ireland tour.

"While some of the players have been sidelined of late, collectively they are making positive strides on the injury front and we are hopeful that they will come into the selection frame over the course of the coming weeks as they ramp up their respective rehab programmes.

Ireland squad:

Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier

Backs: Bundee Aki, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale