Ireland against England in Dublin is "one of the biggest days in the rugby calendar," IRFU said this week ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match-up.
On Thursday, Interim Head Coach Simon Easterby named the Ireland team that will face England in its Six Nations Championship opener on Saturday in Dublin.
Caelan Doris will captain the side as Ireland gets its 2025 Six Nations championship run underway against England in Dublin on Saturday.
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, and James Lowe are named in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield. Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrum-half and Sam Prendergast is at out-half, for what will be his Guinness Men’s Six Nations debut.
Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, and Finlay Bealham have been named in the front row, with James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne in the Ireland engine room. Ryan Baird is selected at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier at openside, and captain Doris packing down at number eight.
Easterby has experienced options on the bench to call upon, with the fit-again Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson, and Jack Conan providing the forward reinforcements, with backs Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Robbie Henshaw completing Ireland’s Match Day Squad.
Joe McCarthy is unavailable due to injury.
Our team to face England in Saturday's Guinness Men's Six Nations opener! 👊#TeamOfUs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 30, 2025
“We’ve come off the back of a good week’s training in Quinta do Lago and I have been hugely impressed by the effort of the squad," Interim Head Coach Easterby said ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match.
"We’ve enjoyed some competitive sessions and it wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23.
"Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week.
“England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance.
“The atmosphere will be electric come kick off and I know how excited the Irish public will be to see their team perform. That opportunity to represent the Irish people is something that always motivates the players and there has been real intent in how they have approached this week’s training. We’re ready for the challenge and excited to get going.”
On Friday, the Ireland squad took to the field at Dublin's Aviva Stadium for the final run-out before Saturday's eagerly anticipated clash with England in Round 1 of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
IRFU notes that both teams head into the tournament with a similar record of a 72% win rate in the opening game of the Championship with 18 wins apiece and while Ireland have won each of their last three home games against England, the visitors did win the most recent encounter in Twickenham last year.
Captain's Run at the Aviva! ✅#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/fNT0WUboF3
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 31, 2025
IRFU said on Friday that the gates at Dublin's Aviva Stadium will be open at 2:45 pm on Saturday, with the opening match of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Scotland v Italy on the big screen.
Saturday’s Six Nations match between Ireland and England will be shown live on Virgin Media One in the Republic of Ireland and ITV in the UK, while there is live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Six Nations 2025 Fixtures
Friday, January 31
- France v Wales - 3:15 pm at Stade de France
Saturday, February 1
- Scotland v Italy - 9:15 am at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
- Ireland v England - 11:45 am at Aviva Stadium
Saturday, February 8
- Italy v Wales - 9:15 am at Stadio Olimpico
- England v France - 11:45 am at Allianz Stadium Twickenham
Sunday, February 9
- Scotland v Ireland - 10 am at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Saturday, February 22
- Wales v Ireland - 9:15 am at Principality Stadium
- England v Scotland - 11:45 am at Allianz Stadium Twickenham
Sunday, February 23
- Italy v France - 10 am at Stadio Olimpico
Saturday, March 8
- Ireland v France - 9:15 am at Aviva Stadium
- Scotland v Wales - 11:45 am at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Sunday, March 9
- England v Italy - 11 am at Allianz Stadium Twickenham
Saturday, March 15
- Italy v Ireland - 10:15 am at Stadio Olimpico
- Wales v England - 12:45 pm at Principality Stadium
- France v Scotland - 4 pm at Stade de France
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