IRELAND BEGIN THEIR Six Nations title defence with a trip to Rome on 7 February.
Today, Joe Schmidt ran the rule over his extended panel ahead of the championship kick-off. Here’s how they looked.
Head coach Schmidt with Jonathan Sexton before the session at Carton house
The Cork contingent of Simon Zebo and Peter O’Mahony arrive at the Maynooth venue
Forwards coach Simon Easterby puts the players through their paces
Sean O’Brien back on the playing pitch
Ian Madigan is gunning for a starting place against Italy
This could well be Paul O’Connell’s final Six Nations championship
Mike McCarthy isn’t feeling the cold
Devin Toner stretches it out
Sean Cronin concentrating really hard on his darts
Veteran campaigner Gordon Darcy
More to follow