Leinster wing James Lowe and out-half Ross Byrne have been omitted from the provisional squad for next month’s Six Nations.
The surprise omissions come as Andy Farrell looks to build on the momentum of the November series that saw Ireland beat the All Blacks for a third time.
Byrne misses out as Joey Carbery has been deemed fit to join up with the squad after elbow surgery, while a muscle injury rules out Lowe.
Carbery is yet to return to full training following the procedure but had been in rare form for Munster and Ireland until dislocating his elbow against Wasps last month.
Once fit, he’ll vie with fit-again Johnny Sexton and Carty for the shirt as the latter is called up having last featured on the field in the 2019 World Cup defeat to New Zealand.
Ireland open their Six Nations campaign at home to Wales on Saturday, February 5, and the broadcast rights will be split for the first time between RTÉ and Virgin Media.
James Ryan, who was a late withdrawal from Leinster’s 89-7 win over Montpellier on Sunday, and Iain Henderson have both overcome niggles to be named in the panel.
Uncapped back three players Michael Lowry of Ulster and Mack Hansen of Connacht have been called up to the 37-man squad in Lowe’s place.
Full back Lowry has been in scintillating form in this year’s Champions Cup, his two tries iin last week’s win over Northampton Saints helping book a quarter-final spot.
Australian-born Hansen, who qualifies for Ireland through his mother, is Connacht’s top try-scorer with six and was an unused member of the November squad.
Also omitted from the squad are Simon Zebo and Ciaran Frawley, while Stuart McCloskey is also left out as he is yet to make his Ulster return.
16 Leinster players in total make the cut, six backs and ten forwards, while there are nine from Munster, eight from Ulster and four from Connacht.
Former Leinster academy and current Connacht flanker Cian Prendergast has been invited to join the squad as a development player but is not expected to feature.
Ireland Six Nations Squad
Backs (17)
Bundee Aki (Connacht), Roberto Baloucoune (Ulster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Jack Carty (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Hume (Ulster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Michael Lowry (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster).
Forwards (20)
Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
Development Player
Cian Prendergast (Connacht)
