Dan Sheehan Named Captain in Ireland’s Nations Championship Squad

Andy Farrell has named his 36-man Ireland squad for November’s Nations Championship fixtures, with Dan Sheehan appointed captain and two uncapped players receiving their first international call-ups.

Ireland will resume their Nations Championship campaign next month, facing Argentina, Fiji and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin before travelling to London for the competition’s inaugural Finals Weekend.

Farrell confirmed his selection on Wednesday, with Ulster duo Jamie Benson and James McNabney among the most notable inclusions. However, several established internationals have been ruled out through injury, including regular captain Caelan Doris and experienced back-row forward Jack Conan.

Dan Sheehan to Captain Ireland Amid Injury Absences

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan will lead Ireland throughout November, continuing in the captaincy role he held during the summer in the absence of Caelan Doris.

Doris remains unavailable as he recovers from injury, while Jack Conan has also been ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury during Leinster’s recent Champions Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne.

The pair are among nine players unavailable for selection, with Jack Crowley, Harry Byrne, Iain Henderson, Jack Boyle, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward also missing out.

Despite those absences, Farrell has retained considerable international experience within his squad. Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne are among the forwards selected, while Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan feature in the backs.

Two Uncapped Ulster Players Earn Ireland Call-Ups

One of the biggest talking points from the announcement is the inclusion of Jamie Benson and James McNabney, who have both earned their first senior Ireland call-ups.

Benson joined Ulster from Harlequins during the summer and has made an immediate impression with his new province. The 24-year-old, who previously represented England at Under-20 level, offers versatility across the backline and provides another option at fly-half following the injuries to Crowley and Byrne.

McNabney, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his performances since recovering from a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the entire 2025/26 campaign. The 23-year-old back-row forward has previously trained with the senior Ireland squad but is now in contention to make his international debut.

There are also welcome returns for Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien, all of whom missed Ireland’s July fixtures.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is another important inclusion, despite having yet to feature for Leinster this season because of a groin problem.

Of the 36 players selected, 17 represent Leinster, nine come from Ulster, eight from Connacht and just two from Munster.

Ireland’s Nations Championship Campaign So Far

Ireland enter November’s fixtures having won two of their opening three matches in the inaugural Nations Championship.

Farrell’s side began the tournament with a dramatic 33-31 victory over Australia in Sydney on Saturday, 4th July, before recording a 36-20 win against Japan in Newcastle a week later.

Their unbeaten start was ended by New Zealand at Eden Park, where the All Blacks secured a 40-21 victory to leave Ireland with two wins and one defeat from the opening three rounds.

Those results have left Ireland fourth in the Northern Hemisphere standings, behind France, Scotland and England, with three matches remaining before the final rankings are decided.

The competition’s format sees the six Six Nations teams face six Southern Hemisphere opponents across July and November, with each result contributing towards the standings. That gives Farrell’s side plenty to play for as the tournament reaches its decisive stage.

Argentina, Fiji and South Africa Await Ireland in November

Ireland’s return to Dublin begins on Friday, 6th November, when Argentina visit the Aviva Stadium for the opening fixture of their autumn schedule.

The following weekend brings a meeting with Fiji on Saturday, 14th November, before Ireland conclude the Northern Hemisphere Series against reigning world champions South Africa on Saturday, 21st November.

The Springboks’ visit is already sold out, with Ireland facing one of the biggest challenges of their campaign in their final home fixture.

For Farrell, the three matches represent an opportunity to improve Ireland’s position in the Nations Championship standings while assessing his squad ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Injuries have created opportunities for emerging players, but competition for places remains significant as Ireland look to finish the tournament strongly.

Nations Championship Finals Weekend at Twickenham

Following the conclusion of the six regular rounds, all 12 participating nations will travel to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend from Friday, 27th November, to Sunday, 29th November.

The three-day event will feature six matches, with teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres facing each other according to their final positions in the respective standings.

The two group winners will contest the Grand Final to determine the inaugural Nations Championship winner, while the remaining nations will face their corresponding opponents in a series of ranking matches.

Ireland’s final opponent will therefore depend on where they finish in the Northern Hemisphere table.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaching, November’s Nations Championship offers Farrell an important opportunity to test his established internationals and emerging players against high-quality opposition.

Ireland Nations Championship 2026 FAQs

Who is captaining Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship?

Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland during November’s Nations Championship fixtures, with regular captain Caelan Doris unavailable through injury.

Which uncapped players have been selected for Ireland?

Ulster’s Jamie Benson and James McNabney are the two uncapped players included in Andy Farrell’s 36-man squad.

Who will Ireland play in November’s Nations Championship?

Ireland will face Argentina on 6th November, Fiji on 14th November and South Africa on 21st November. All three matches will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

When is the Nations Championship Finals Weekend?

The inaugural Nations Championship Finals Weekend takes place from 27th to 29th November 2026 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in London.

How have Ireland performed in the Nations Championship so far?

Ireland have recorded victories over Australia and Japan, alongside a defeat against New Zealand, leaving them with two wins from their opening three matches.