The Ireland assistant coach officially has the final say on the Six Nations campaign and summer tour, but knowing Farrell will be back in the autumn to resume

BBC Sport NI looks at some of the talking points from Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby's Six Nations squad.

As expected, in what was his first Six Nations squad announcement as Ireland interim head coach, Simon Easterby stuck with the solid foundations laid by Andy Farrell rather than ripping up the script and making wholesale changes.

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations. The 22-year-old Boyle has been selected ahead of Ulster’s Tom O’Toole, who is unavailable for his country’s first two games of the tournament due to suspension following his red card against Munster.

Simon Easterby stuck with the tried and tested in his first squad as interim coach of two-time defending Six Nations champions Ireland on Wednesday, naming just one uncapped player in a 36-man roster.

IRELAND HAVE NAMED uncapped Leinster loosehead prop Jack Boyle in their 36-man squad for the 2025 Six Nations. 22-year-old Boyle was involved in Ireland’s November campaign as a development player but has now been formally named in the senior squad for the first time.