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Ireland leave Jackson out of Six Nations opener as out-half returns to Ulster

PJ won’t feature for Ireland against Wales this weekend.

IRELAND COACH JOE Schmidt has released Paddy Jackson for Ulster duty in tomorrow night’s Guinness Pro12 clash with the Dragons at Kingspan Stadium [KO 7.35pm, BBC NI].

Jackson has been named on the Ulster bench, with Ian Humphreys starting.

Paddy Jackson Jackson trained with Ireland in Carton House yesterday but has been released. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

That means Ian Madigan looks certain to play back up to Johnny Sexton for Ireland’s opening Six Nations meeting with Wales on Sunday afternoon in Dublin.

Jackson’s superb form with Ulster, both off the tee and around the pitch, had pushed him into strong contention for the bench out-half spot with Ireland, but Schmidt appears to have instead retained faith in Madigan.

Meanwhile, Ireland U20 international Jacob Stockdale will make his first senior start for Ulster in tomorrow night’s Pro12 fixture.

The 19-year-old earned his provincial debut off the bench in last weekend’s 32-13 win away to Treviso but has been handed the number 11 shirt for tomorrow’s clash with the Welsh region.

Stockdale featured for the Ireland U20s last season and would have started tomorrow night’s U20 Six Nations meeting with Wales at Donnybrook but for this call up to Ulster’s senior squad.

Peter Browne, Ruan Pienaar and Robbie Diack are the three other new faces in the Ulster team for tomorrow night’s rescheduled tie against the Dragons.

Ulster (v Dragons):

15. Louis Ludik
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Darren Cave
12. Stuart Olding
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Ian Humphreys
9. Ruan Pienaar

1. Callum Black
2. Rob Herring
3. Ricky Lutton
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Peter Browne
6. Robbie Diack
7. Sean Reidy
8. Roger Wilson

Replacements:

16. John Andrew
17. Kyle McCall
18. Bronson Ross
19. Clive Ross
20. Nick Williams
21. Paul Marshall
22. Paddy Jackson
23. Rory Scholes

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