Ireland reshuffle squad as France make late change before Six Nations opener

The squad assembled in the IRFU High Performance Centre on Sunday as they begin their preparations for the 2026 Championship.

However, there are two alterations to the original group that was named by head coach Andy Farrell as prop Jack Boyle suffered an injury while playing for Leinster and Munster's Tom Ahern also drops out.

Boyle sustained a leg injury during Leinster's United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht on Saturday and is replaced by uncapped prop Billy Bohan.

Bohan, who is in the Connacht Academy, featured for the Ireland Men's U20s in last season's U20 Six Nations and Junior World Championship.

Boyle is the latest loosehead prop to be struck by injury after Leinster team-mates Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy were sidelined.

Subsequently Bohan will link up with Munster duo Jeremy Loughman and Michael Milne as Farrell's options in that position.

Ahern is replaced by Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu, while wing Robert Baloucoune will continue to be assessed over the coming days after being withdrawn at half-time in Ulster's defeat away to Scarlets.

Ireland will kick off the opening round of the Six Nations away to France on Thursday, February 5.

There was also a change to France's squad on Sunday as second-row Thibaud Flament dropped out in order to accompany his wife in her fertility treatment.

The Toulouse stalwart is replaced in the squad by club-mate Joshua Brennan, whose father Trevor represented Ireland during his playing days.

Brennan has two caps for Les Bleus and is equally comfortable in the second-row or on the flank.

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