Irish rugby players cassidy

Dan Sheehan and James Lowe have been included in Simon Easterby’s Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations after overcoming injury as the interim head coach aims for a historic championship three-in-a-row.

Subject to successful returns for Leinster, the pair will fly with the rest of Easterby’s player squad plus four development players for a warm-weather training camp in Portugal next week ahead of the February 1 opener at home to England.

Caelan Doris will once again captain Ireland in the championship campaign with fellow back-rower and title-winning skipper Peter O’Mahony also named.

The veteran Munster flanker is set to return from a month’s absence with a calf contusion in this Saturday’s pool clash at Northampton Saints.

Another returnee from injury is Leinster back-rower Jack Conan, who missed the November internationals with a hamstring injury and the No.8’s inclusion sees Ulster’s Nick Timoney omitted from Easterby’s squad along with Coonach