FIVE NEW PLAYERS have been added to the Ireland XV squad ahead of Friday night’s meeting with England A at Thomond Park [KO 7.15pm, Premier Sport].

Jack Aungier, Fiachna Barrett, Harry Sheridan, Fineen Wycherley and Ethan Coughlan all joined Cullie Tucker’s squad as the group gathered in Limerick on Monday morning.

As previously confirmed, Ciaran Frawley, Billy Bohan and Bryn Ward have also come into the group having trained with Andy Farrell’s senior squad in Portugal last week.

Sam Illo, Oli Jager, Diarmuid Mangan and Ben Murphy have been ruled out of Friday’s game, while Jude Postlethwaite and Darragh Murray have remaining in Paris ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France on Thursday night.

Leinster’s Max Deegan is captain of the Ireland XV squad, with Tucker assisted by forwards coach John Muldoon, defence coach Sean O’Brien and attack coach Mark Sexton.

Ireland XV Squad:

Forwards (16)

• Jack Aungier (Connacht)(1 Test cap)
• Fiachna Barrett (Connacht)
• Diarmuid Barron (Munster)
• Billy Bohan (Connacht)
• Paul Boyle (Connacht)(1)
• Sam Crean (Ulster)
• Max Deegan (Leinster)(4)(captain)
• Brian Gleeson (Munster)
• Charlie Irvine (Ulster)
• Sean Jansen (Connacht)
• Gus McCarthy (Leinster)(7)
• Harry Sheridan (Ulster)
• Stephen Smyth (Leinster)
• Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
• Scott Wilson (Ulster)
• Fineen Wycherley (Munster)(1)

Backs (11)

• Ethan Coughlan (Munster)
• Shane Daly (Munster)(2)
• Matthew Devine (Connacht)
• Cathal Forde (Connacht)
• Ciaran Frawley (Leinster)(9)
• Fintan Gunne (Leinster)
• James Hume (Ulster)(3)
• Dan Kelly (Munster)
• Joshua Kenny (Leinster)
• Jack Murphy (Ulster)
• Zac Ward (Ulster)