Jack Crowley replaces Sam Prendergast at fly-half for England clash

The Ireland Six Nations 2026 squad is starting to feel more familiar, as Andy Farrell’s team to face England on Saturday brings back some big names.

The biggest headline, however, is Jack Crowley getting the nod to start at fly-half after impressing when he came onto the field to see out last weekend’s win over Italy. Sam Prendergast drops out of the 23 entirely.

After Farrell gave youth a chance on Saturday, there are returns for a quartet of British & Irish Lions, with scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, tighthead Tadhg Furlong, blindside flanker Tadhg Beirne and openside Josh van der Flier all coming into the XV.

Furlong joins hooker Dan Sheehan and loosehead Jeremy Loughman in the front row. The second row partnership of Joe McCarthy and James Ryan remains intact, and captain Caelan Doris lines up alongside Beirne and van der Flier at number 8.

The backs division is unchanged outside Crowley, with a centre partnership of Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose, and James Lowe and Robert Baloucoune (a try scorer against Italy) on the wings. Jamie Osborne continues at full-back

Farrell has shifted to a 5-3 split on the replacements bench, where Finlay Bealham returns to provide tighthead cover. He’s joined by Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Tommy O’Brien.

“Games between the two sides have been nip and tuck over recent times and there’s great familiarity and respect across both camps,” said Farrell. “We know their strengths and our aim is to deliver the best version of ourselves to put us in a position to get the performance that we want.

“Backed by thousands of travelling Irish supporters who come from all over the world whenever we play in Twickenham, it will be another special occasion and a challenge we’re excited to face.”

England v Ireland kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 21 February, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player in Ireland.

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Ireland Six Nations team v England – round 3

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Tom O’Toole
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Nick Timoney 
20. Jack Conan
21. Craig Casey
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Tommy O’Brien

Ireland Six Nations team v Italy – round 2

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Craig Casey

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Cormac Izuchukwu
7. Caelan Doris (captain)
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Tom O’Toole
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Edwin Edogbo
20. Tadhg Beirne
21. Nick Timoney 
22. Jamison Gibson-Park
23. Jack Crowley 

Ireland Six Nations team v France – round 1

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Cian Prendergast
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher 
17. Michael Milne
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick Timoney 
22. Craig Casey 
23. Jack Crowley 

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Ireland Six Nations squad: Farrell’s 37-man squad

Forwards (20): Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connact), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs (17): Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

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Ireland Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

• Thu 5 February, France v Ireland (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 14 February, Ireland v Italy (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
• Fri 6 March, Ireland v Wales (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 14 March, Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK

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Ireland Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v England (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-22 England 

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Ryan Baird
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Iain Henderson
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Robbie Henshaw

Round 2: v Scotland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Result: Scotland 18-32 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Calvin Nash
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Garry Ringrose

Round 3: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Result: Wales 18-27 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan (captain)
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Ryan Baird
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Bundee Aki

Round 4: v France (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-42 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jamie Osborne
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Calvin Nash
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Ryan Baird
22. Conor Murray
23. Jack Crowley

Round 5: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)

Result: Italy 17 – 22 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Peter O’Mahony
21. Conor Murray
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Bundee Aki