Bernard Jackman tips Caelan Doris as dark horse for Ireland captaincy

Bernard Jackman believes Leinster back row Caelan Doris could be a "dark horse" to be appointed Ireland captain ahead of the upcoming Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Johnny Sexton's curtain call after last year's Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit against New Zealand means the captaincy role is up for grabs.

Head coach Andy Farrell will name his Six Nations squad later this month ahead of the opening fixture in Paris against France on 2 February, when the identity of the next captain is also set to be revealed, with James Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Garry Ringrose and Iain Henderson among those earmarked to succeed Sexton.

But speaking on RTÉ's Saturday Sport, Jackman suggested that 25-year-old Doris, who captained Leinster for the first time when they faced Ulster on New Year's Day, could have a realistic shot of being in the mix.

"It's a big call for Farrell. I think there's a strong chance that it's going to be Caelan Doris," he said.

"I think there's a chance it'll be him because he's nailed on to start, [his] age profile. It would be a bolter from Farrell.

"The other alternative is that Peter [O'Mahony] comes back and plays and they go for a short-term fix.

"I don't know, there aren't a lot of fellas that you'd go, 'he should be captain'. I think Doris could end up being a bit of a dark horse."

The make-up of the squad for the opening round of the Six Nations is likely to offer some intrigue amid injuries and variations in recent provincial form, as well as Sexton's retirement.

Jackman pointed to a number of positions where the pecking order could be in flux, such as at scrum-half and out-half.

"When that squad is picked, it's going to be quite shallow in certain positions," he said.

"Loosehead, I think they're going to move Tom