SIX Ulstermen will make the trip to South Africa as Ireland prepare to take on the back-to-back world champion Springboks in a two-match test series.
Cormac Izuchukwu could make his first appearance for Andy Farrell’s side, having displayed impressive form for the province in the last few games of the season.
Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale also make the plane to Johannesburg.
Ireland go into this series having won the last three meetings between the nations, including a 13-8 success during the pool stage at last year’s World Cup in France.
The major absentee from the northern province is Iain Henderson, who was ruled out last month after undergoing toe surgery.
Other major names missing out are arguably Ireland’s standout player in the Six Nations, Jamison Gibsin-Park, who misses out with a hamstring injury, and Jack Conan, who is ruled out for personal reasons.
Conan’s wife, Ali, is due to give birth and the Leinster forward ruled himself out for travel.
Connacht scrum-half Caolin Blade, who has two international caps, benefits from the absence of the influential Gibson-Park.
With full-back Hugo Keenan absent for the tour due to his participation in his country’s rugby sevens squad at the Paris Olympics, Jimmy O’Brien makes a timely return from injury having sat out as Ireland retained the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year.
Ulster’s Tom Stewart also failed to make the 35-man squad for the series against South Africa, despite finishing inside the top 10 try scorers in this year’s United Rugby Championship.
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Peter O’Mahony remains as captain of Andy Farrell’s side despite rumours of the Six Nations being his swansong in an Ireland jersey.
O’Mahony added: “I am proud to be asked to lead Ireland in South Africa, a country which provides one of the toughest challenges in world rugby.
“As reigning world champions, South Africa will provide the sternest of tests and we know that we will have to perform at a high level to get the results we want.
“There’s a lot of respect and familiarity between both countries in recent years at international and club levels...we know the challenge that awaits.”
Three players could make their test debut for the boys in green in South Africa; Leinster’s Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast and Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu.
Head coach Andy Farrell said: “Travelling to South Africa to play a Test Series against the defending world champions provides no greater test for us.
“It is another valuable opportunity for us to further grow and develop from the Guinness Six Nations.”
Farrell’s side will go head-to-head with the Springboks in the opening Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 6.
The second test will be played at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban a week later on Saturday, July 13.
Ireland squad for the tour of South Africa:
Backs: B Aki (Connacht), C Blade (Connacht), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), C Nash (Munster), J O’Brien (Leinster), J Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster).
Forwards: R Baird (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), C Doris (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), R Herring (Ulster), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), O Jager (Munster), R Kelleher (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster, capt), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), J van der Flier (Leinster).
