Ireland add James Lowe and Jimmy O'Brien to Six Nations squad

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has added James Lowe and Jimmy O'Brien to the Six Nations squad ahead of the third round of the Six Nations clash against Italy to be played at Aviva Stadium.

Lowe missed the opening two rounds of the competition due to injury but has made a comeback for Leinster with a brilliant try in the game against Ospreys last weekend.

Also called up to the squad is O'Brien, who is on the look out for his first cap after impressing for Leinster.

The 14 players, who were released by Farrell for the weekend's United Rugby Championship games including the likes of Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Ryan Baird, Cian Healy, Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Michael Lowry, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell has returned back to the squad.

The 38-man squad assembled on Monday evening as they look to return back to winning ways following a 30-24 defeat to France in the previous round.

Ireland are positioned third in the Six Nations table with a win and a defeat apiece in the two games.

Ireland squad:

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen), Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf), Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon), Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht) , Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers), James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) , Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD), Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College), James Lowe (Leinster), Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge), Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/), Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) , Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College).

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University), Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers), Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne), Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere), Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf), Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf), Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers), Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy), Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians), Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution), Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch), Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD), James Ryan (Leinster/UCD), Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne), Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD).