Ireland coach Andy Farrell has named five uncapped players in an extended 40-man squad for their three-test tour of New Zealand.
Exciting lock Joe McCarthy has been included, along with Leinster teammates, Ciaran Frawley and Jimmy O'Brien.
Munster's Jeremy Loughman and Connacht's Cian Prendergast complete the uncapped selections.
✈️ Introducing our 40-player Ireland squad for the Summer Tour of New Zealand! ??
Head Coach Andy Farrell has included five uncapped players in the travelling panel, captained by @JohnnySexton. #TeamOfUs | #NZTour2022
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 14, 2022
The series kicks off at Eden Park on July 2nd, with tests in Dunedin and Wellington over the following two weeks.
It should prove an interesting series, as we look to gauge the progress of both sides ahead of next year's World Cup.
The boys will warm up for the first test with a match against the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton on June 29th.
That will be followed up with another mid-week fixture against them on July 12th in Wellington.
5⃣ Matches ??
4⃣ Cities ?Our Summer Tour schedule is locked in! ?#TeamOfUs | #NZTour2022
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 15, 2022
"This is the start of our Rugby World Cup campaign, and it is going to be a fantastic challenge for our group facing five massive tests across the three weeks," Farrell said in a media release.
"Due to Covid we haven’t had an opportunity to tour.
"Touring plays a massive role in teams gelling together and building cohesion on and off the field."
It will be Ireland's first southern hemisphere tour since beating Australia in 2018, and their first to New Zealand since 2012.
Ireland beat the All Blacks 29-20 in Dublin last November but have never beaten the hosts in New Zealand.
