Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Squad While McCarthy Omitted

Returning manager Andy Farrell has selected captain Doris in his Ireland squad for the fall Tests, however lock McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in early May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering whether he will be fit to play against New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.

Second row McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and Munster wing Nash also miss out due to injury, and number 15 Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation following the Lions tour.

Dublin province forward Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new member in the 34-man squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says new Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

Following playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their previous meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to Georgia and the Lobos," commented Farrell, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again compete for the first-choice number 10 position. The fly-half role is still available, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third fly-half chosen as Farrell opting against selecting the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has picked British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer Test victories over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced group of midfield options. Osborne is another option in the centres, though the 23-year-old is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Outside backs James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. The winger shone on his first Ireland outings during the summer with a brace each in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the only fresh name in the Irish pack. The front rower has been in a couple of his province's three United Rugby Championship matches this season and featured in Ireland A's defeat by England in the English city previously.

The 22-year-old was selected in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer squad, but did not earn a international appearance.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those Tests, is retained, while experienced Northern province second row Iain Henderson is back after missing the summer tour.

Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for the captain if the captain does not regain full fitness soon enough to play the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in the capital on Monday before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

Forwards (19): Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Province), Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Province), Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Province, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Province), Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Province), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Blade (Province), Craig Casey (Province), Crowley (Province), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Province), Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Province), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Province), Sam Prendergast (Province), Ringrose (Province), Stockdale (Province).

Times BST

• The national team v the All Blacks, November 1, Soldier Field (20:10)
• Ireland v the Brave Blossoms, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• Ireland v Australia, November 15, Dublin (20:10)
• The Irish v the Springboks, November 22, Dublin (17:40)