Ireland will kick off the 2026 Six Nations campaign in Paris against France, with Prop Jeremy Loughman set to start after a two-year absence due to injury. Munster team-mate Michael Milne is the loose-head back-up on the bench.
The Ireland lineup sees Jamie Osborne at full-back and Tommy O'Brien in the back three, replacing British and Irish Lion James Lowe, who misses out due to his exclusion from the starting team by head coach Andy Farrell. Cian Prendergast also starts at six, wearing a number 8 jersey instead of usual flanker Jack Conan.
Tight-head Tadhg Furlong is not available for the game despite returning to training last week with a calf problem and Thomas Clarkson will don the number three jersey in his place. The Irish team's starting front row will be Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Finlay Bealham, while hooker Jack Boyle misses out.
Ireland is also without wing Mack Hansen and fellow centre Robbie Henshaw for the game against France due to injuries. Bundee Aki is banned from the first three games of the campaign. Stuart McCloskey partners Garry Ringrose in midfield at fly-half, with Sam Prendergast forming a familiar half-back pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park.
France's lineup sees skipper Antoine Dupont return after an 11-month injury layoff and Bordeaux-Begles number 10 Matthieu Jalibert replacing injured club-mate Romain Ntamack. In the front row, Dorian Aldegheri will start at tight-head prop for Les Bleus, as Uuni Atonio's retirement has left a void in the position.
The Ireland lineup sees Jamie Osborne at full-back and Tommy O'Brien in the back three, replacing British and Irish Lion James Lowe, who misses out due to his exclusion from the starting team by head coach Andy Farrell. Cian Prendergast also starts at six, wearing a number 8 jersey instead of usual flanker Jack Conan.
Tight-head Tadhg Furlong is not available for the game despite returning to training last week with a calf problem and Thomas Clarkson will don the number three jersey in his place. The Irish team's starting front row will be Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Finlay Bealham, while hooker Jack Boyle misses out.
Ireland is also without wing Mack Hansen and fellow centre Robbie Henshaw for the game against France due to injuries. Bundee Aki is banned from the first three games of the campaign. Stuart McCloskey partners Garry Ringrose in midfield at fly-half, with Sam Prendergast forming a familiar half-back pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park.
France's lineup sees skipper Antoine Dupont return after an 11-month injury layoff and Bordeaux-Begles number 10 Matthieu Jalibert replacing injured club-mate Romain Ntamack. In the front row, Dorian Aldegheri will start at tight-head prop for Les Bleus, as Uuni Atonio's retirement has left a void in the position.
Antoine Dupont is back and they're gonna be super tough to beat! but idk if ireland can handle the pressure with no mack hansen and robbie henshaw out sick 
also what's up w/ tadhg furlong not being fit yet 
hope he recovers in time for the big game tho 
I think it's pretty harsh to leave James Lowe out of the starting lineup, you know? He's still an awesome player and was doing well before he got benched 
. I mean, Andy Farrell must have had a reason for leaving him out, but we don't know what that is yet 
. On the other hand, Cian Prendergast starting at six is kinda cool, I guess 
. And Bundee Aki getting banned is super frustrating for Ireland fans 
. France looks like they've got their mojo back with Antoine Dupont returning from injury and Matthieu Jalibert in the number 10 spot 
. Should be an epic clash in Paris! 
. and what's w/ Bundee Aki getting banned from 3 games? its so unfair 
. i mean i get it, u gotta take risks & all that, but cant they jus find a way 2 keep him involved? 
. hope ireland can pull off a win w/o their 2 injured wingz 
.
! Jeremy Loughman making his comeback is like a little present for rugby fans everywhere 
. And Tommy O'Brien at full-back, wow, I love the change of pace from James Lowe 
. Cian Prendergast at six instead of Jack Conan might just be the spark Ireland needs 
. Let's hope Tadhg Furlong recovers soon and gets back on the field 
!
. And Bundee Aki got banned for the first 3 games already... that's just great, just what we needed more bad news 
. And France just came back from an 11-month injury layoff and they're looking pretty sharp with Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert... Ireland is in trouble 
. Wonder if they've got this Six Nations thing figured out or just winging it 
! but seriously, gotta be worried about ireland's injured players, like Mack Hansen and Robbie Henshaw, hope they make it back soon 
. The Irish team looks like it's missing some key players, especially at full-back Jamie Osborne is a decent choice but he can't replace the experience of James Lowe 
. And let's be real, France has been dominating the Six Nations lately so I'm not expecting Ireland to pull off a major upset 
. The question is, can they even get out of the first 20 minutes without losing a player? 
️. this game in paris is gonna be electric 
️ But seriously tho, have you seen Ireland's lineup for the 6 Nations? Jeremy Loughman is starting after a two-year injury absence 
and Cian Prendergast wearing that number 8 jersey instead of Jack Conan is so bold