Ireland call up Tom Stewart after Rónan Kelleher suffers injury ahead of Six Nations opener

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has been called into the Ireland squad ahead of Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales after Rónan Kelleher suffered a hamstring injury in training.

Former Ireland U20 international Stewart has linked up with Andy Farrell’s squad at their Algarve training camp as they build towards their trip to the Principality Stadium.

Kelleher has remained in Portugal and will be managed by the Ireland medical team over the coming days.

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong remain on course to make their returns from injury against Wales.

With Dan Sheehan expected to start in Cardiff, the uncapped Stewart will battle with Ulster team-mate Rob Herring for a place on the bench.

Stewart, who turned 22 on 11 January, has been in excellent form for Ulster this season, scoring seven tries in 11 appearances. He made his ninth start of the campaign in last Friday's BKT United Rugby Championship win over the DHL Stormers.

Stewart featured twice for Emerging Ireland during their autumn tour of South Africa and was also part of the match-day preparations for the Ireland 'A’ game against an All Blacks XV in November.

The Belfast man's addition brings the number of Emerging Ireland tourists in Farrell’s senior squad to five, with Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy, Jamie Osborne and Cian Prendergast also included.

Ireland were 29-7 winners over Wales last year but they have tasted defeat on their last three visits to Cardiff in the Six Nations.

Saturday's contest will be Warren Gatland’s first game back in charge of Wales after he replaced Wayne Pivac last month.

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