Farrell to name Ireland World Cup training squad

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will today announce his World Cup training squad.

The panel, which will contain 43-45 players, will assemble in mid-June to begin training camps leading into warm-up games in August against Italy, England and Samoa before the World Cup.

The Six Nations champions open their tournament against Romania on 9 September in Bordeaux, and also face Tonga, South Africa and Scotland in Pool B.

While the squad, which has won a series in New Zealand, secured a clean sweep in the autumn and claimed the Grand Slam, is largely settled, the varying fortunes of the provinces in the post-season may come into Farrell's selection thinking.

URC final man of the match John Hodnett (below) could be recognised for his form, while fellow Munster men Shane Daly, Calvin Nash, all three selected for the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa at the start of the season, and Jean Kleyn, who won five caps in 2019 under Joe Schmidt, have given Farrell food for thought.

Keith Earls, capped 98 times, has timed his return to fitness perfectly and while only contracted until the end of the World Cup, told RTÉ last night that he hasn’t ruled out another season.

"Who knows, who knows?" the 35-year-old said at the Munster homecoming in Thomond Park.

"I’d like to have a good pre-season and then we’ll make a decision."

Munster’s incredible run to the final came in stark contrast to the fortunes of Ulster who, after finishing second in the BKT URC table, lost their home quarter-final to Connacht.

Backs James Hume, Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale have been kicking their heels for the last three weeks, unable to let their feet do the talking.

However, McCloskey started six of Ireland’s last eight games,