Irish fully loaded for Australia tour

UNCAPPED pair Tadhg Beirne and Ross Byrne have been named in a 32man Ireland squad for the three-Test series against Australia next month.

Beirne, 26, who can play in the back row or second row, becomes eligible for Ireland after agreeing to join Munster from PRO14 finalists Scarlets.

Leinster fly-half Byrne provides cover for Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery.

All of Ireland’s frontline players are selected, including Sexton and Rob Kearney, who have not been part of an Ireland summer touring squad since 2014.

Skipper Rory Best is fit to captain the squad after missing Ulster’s Pro14 Champions Cup play-off win over the Ospreys with a hamstring injury sustained in training.

Iain Henderson is also included, although he is likely to be an injury doubt for the first Test in Brisbane on June 9 after knee problems.

Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki have overcome knee and ankle injuries respectively in time to travel with the squad.

Notable absentees for the trip down under include injured forwards Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and Tommy O’Donnell, plus backs Chris Farrell and Fergus McFadden.

Ireland have not won a series in the Southern Hemisphere since defeating Australia 2-0 in 1979. The teams will meet in Melbourne for the second Test on June 16, with the final game in Sydney on June 23.