JOE SCHMIDT HAS called uncapped Connacht prop Finlay Bealham into his Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the Six Nations.
24-year-old Bealham replaces the injured Marty Moore.
Bealham is a native of Australia but joined Belfast Harlequins in 2010 after the IRFU lured him to these shores. Qualifying for Ireland through a grandparent, the prop featured for the Ireland U20s in the 2011 Six Nations and Junior World Championship.
He joined Connacht’s academy on the back of those performances, eventually progressing to a senior contract with the western province in 2014. Bealham has 44 Connacht caps overall, including six starts under Pat Lam in the current season.
Bealham can play at loosehead and tighthead.
Meanwhile, an IRFU statement has provided updates on the health of Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw.
“Jonathan Sexton has passed both Head Injury Assessment (HIA) 1 and 2 and will complete HIA 3 tomorrow,” reads the statement.
“Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw has suffered no ill effects after playing for Connacht at the weekend.”
Ireland’s Six Nations campaign begins against Wales on 7 February in Dublin.
