Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Team But McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed head coach Andy Farrell has selected captain Doris in his Irish roster for the fall Tests, however Joe McCarthy misses out.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to face New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.

Second row Joe McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the opening Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster winger Nash are also absent due to fitness concerns, while number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery after the summer tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped member in the 34-player group, however Irish rugby authorities says new provincial pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "cover".

After facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their previous meeting, the team will play Japan, the Wallabies and world champions the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," said Farrell, back to Ireland duty after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again vie for the starting number 10 position. The number 10 jersey is remains available, as Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 selected with the coach opting against calling up the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test victories over the Lelos and Portugal. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey form an veteran cohort of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, though the 23-year-old is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at full-back.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. O'Brien shone on his national team debut over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only new addition in the Ireland forwards. The loose-head prop has started 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 earlier this year.

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

Munster second row Thomas Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while experienced Ulster second row Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who started all three Lions Tests over the summer, is set to cover for the captain should the skipper does not regain full fitness in time to face New Zealand.

The Ireland squad will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to Chicago on the following day.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Province), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Province), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Province, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Leinster), G McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Province), Andrew Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Province), James Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Leinster).

Backline (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Province), Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Connacht), Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Ulster), O'Brien (Province), Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Province), Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Kick-off times

• Ireland v New Zealand, November 1, Chicago (20:10)
• The side v the Brave Blossoms, November 8, Dublin (12:40)
• Ireland v the Wallabies, 15 November, Dublin (20:10)
• Ireland v the Springboks, 22 November, Aviva Stadium (17:40)