Ireland start Loughman but Lowe and Furlong out

Prop Jeremy Loughman will make his first Ireland appearance in two years against France in the opening game of the 2026 Six Nations on Thursday, but there is no place in the starting team for James Lowe, James Ryan or Tadhg Furlong.

With Ireland’s three first-choice loose-heads, Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, all missing through injury for the game at the Stade de France (20:10 GMT), the 30-year-old Loughman will play at Test level for the first time since the Six Nations of 2024 and make his first international start since November 2022.

Loughman’s Munster team-mate Michael Milne, who won his only two previous caps against Georgia and Portugal in July, will be the loose-head back-up on the bench.

With Hugo Keenan missing because of the fractured hand he sustained in training last week, Jamie Osborne starts at full-back in what will be his first action since Ireland faced Japan in November.

Osborne had been expected to be in a straight shootout for the 15 jersey with Jacob Stockdale, but the Ulster player instead takes the place usually occupied by James Lowe on the left wing.

The exclusion of British and Irish Lion Lowe is not the only big call made by head coach Andy Farrell, with Connacht’s Cian Prendergast wearing six in the absence of Ryan Baird.

Osborne; O’Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Beirne, C Prendergast, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

With issues surrounding injury and suspension, Farrell’s team selection for this one has been among the most debated of his tenure.

Any side would struggle for depth when losing three players in the same position but the head coach has been beset with injuries elsewhere too.

With tight-head prop Tadhg Furlong not deemed fit to feature despite making a return to training last week following a calf problem, Thomas Clarkson will wear the number three jersey with Finlay Bealham on the bench.

Ireland are also without wing Mack Hansen, while Bundee Aki is banned for the first three games of the campaign and fellow centre Robbie Henshaw is injured.

Joining Osborne and Stockdale in the back three will be Tommy O’Brien, while Stuart McCloskey gets the nod to partner Garry Ringrose in midfield.

Farrell has kept faith with Sam Prendergast at fly-half, despite the claims of Harry Byrne, with the 22-year-old number 10 forming a familiar half-back pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park.

Hooker Dan Sheehan starts between Loughman and Clarkson in the front row, while Cian Prendergast is alongside Josh van der Flier and skipper Caelan Doris in the back row.

While there will also have been a temptation to start Jack Conan at blind-side flanker, he joins Nick Timoney as one of two loose forward options among the replacements.