Ireland will be without their captain Caelan Doris and wing Tommy O'Brien as they head off to Australia and New Zealand for the start of their Nations Championship campaign, Irish Rugby announced on Saturday.
Both players were injured during Leinster's 36-7 win over Pretoria Bulls in Friday's URC final and have been withdrawn from the 36-man squad.
Doris was replaced after just seven minutes with an injured foot while O'Brien gave way at halftime with a groin injury.
They have been replaced by Ulster brothers Bryn Ward, 21, and Zac Ward, 27.
The uncapped duo, whose father Andy Ward played 28 times for Ireland, including the 1999 World Cup, join three other rookies in Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen in Andy Farrell's squad.
A squad update ahead of our departure for Sydney. pic.twitter.com/efEVUBEuif
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 20, 2026
Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan replaces Doris as skipper on the three-match tour, which kicks off with a test against Australia in Sydney on July 4.
Over the following two weekends, they will then take on Japan in Newcastle and New Zealand in Auckland.
Revised Ireland squad:
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sean Jansen, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Tom O'Toole, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier, Bryn Ward
Backs: Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale, Zac Ward
Ireland Fixtures:
Saturday, July 4: Australia v Ireland, Sydney
Saturday, July 11: Japan v Ireland, Newcastle, Australia
Saturday, July 18: New Zealand v Ireland, Auckland