Uncapped Tom Stewart added to Ireland squad as Rónan…

Uncapped Tom Stewart added to Ireland squad as Rónan Kelleher a Six Nations doubt

Rónan Kelleher has emerged as a Six Nations doubt as Tom Stewart has joined Ireland's squad in Portugal ahead of the championship kick-off.

Andy Farrell's panel is in Quinta do Lago since Thursday ahead of Saturday's clash with Wales in Cardiff.

Leinster hooker Kelleher picked up a hamstring injury in training, and Farrell has moved to bring in Ulster's under-20 international Stewart as additional cover.

Dan Sheehan and Stewart's provincial colleague Rob Herring are already in camp, with Leinster's Sheehan favourite to start against the Welsh following his July and November exploits in green.

Ronan Kelleher with the Ireland squad in Portugal (©INPHO/Ryan Bailey)

Kelleher will be managed by the Ireland medical team over the coming days but it is more frustration for him, given he last played at Test level in the 2022 Six Nations and missed the New Zealand tour and the Autumn series.

Stewart played twice for Emerging Ireland in the Autumn, starting in the victories over the Griquas and the Cheetahs.

He was also a part of the match day preparations for the Ireland ‘A’ game against the All Blacks XV in November.

Ireland squad:

Backs (17)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 41 caps
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 7 caps
Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 2 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 98 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 23 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) 8 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 25 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Marys College) 30 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 15 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 9 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 100 caps
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 3 caps
Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)*
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 109 caps (c)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 35 caps

Forwards (20)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 27 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 36 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 33 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 23 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 63 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 121 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 68 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 31 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 18 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 48 caps
Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University) 1 cap
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 89 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 4 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps
Cian Prendergast (Connacht/Corinthians) 1 cap
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
Tom Stewart (Ulster/Ballynahinch)*
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps

*denotes uncapped player

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