AHERN’S CALLED IN AS HENDO INJURED
MUNSTER’S Thomas Ahern has been called into the senior Ireland training panel.
And it will make for quite the week as he turns 24 this Thursday.
The call-up came after Iain Henderson injured a foot in Ulster’s game against Ospreys on Sunday.
Elevation to a senior squad spot — as opposed to an ‘extra at training’ invite — is recognition for a hardy contribution to the Munster cause so far this season.
He has been involved in 14 games for the Reds, 10 as a starter, and while he last three games were in the second-row there was a prominent run of six games at blindside flanker.
Ahern is unlikely to make the coming matchday squad although were something to happen to either of James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne or Joe McCarthy, he could make the bench.
Monitor
Oli Jager (inset) has also been included as Andy Farrell continues to monitor the 28 year-old tight-head.
Again, Jager is down the pecking order as there are three other tightheads in the panel, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham and Tom O’Toole.
The 36-strong squad includes Hugo Keenan, who is extremely doubtful after picking up a knee injury against Italy, Peter O’Mahony, Bundee Aki and Furlong, who were rehabilitating slight knocks.
The injured Mack Hansen remains the highest profile absentee as he continues rehabbing a shoulder injury.
Ireland face Wales at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (2.15pm). The team will be announced at lunchtime on Thursday.
IRELAND TRAINING SQUAD:
Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe (all Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)
Forwards (21): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy (all Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Oli Jager (Munster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster) capt, Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (all Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)