Ulster Rugby Hooker Rory Best has been named as the new Irish Captain. Best (33) takes over the captaincy from Paul O'Connell who retired from international rugby last October following Ireland's exit from the Rugby World Cup.
Best made his international debut in 2005 and has since made 89 appearances for Ireland in which he has scored 8 tries. In 2012 he captained Ireland against Scotland and England in that years Six Nations campaign.
Along with naming Rory Best as his captain, Ireland manager Joe Schmidt unveiled his squad for the first two rounds of the 2016 Six Nations campaign which begins on the 7th of February against Wales at the Aviva Stadium. In the squad there are three uncapped players looking to make their international debuts. Munster Captain CJ Stander who is originally from South Africa but has declared for Ireland on the basis of him being an Irish resident, Connachts Ultan Dillane and Leinster's Josh Van Der Flier.
According to Joe Schmidt on the IRFU website, Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Chris Henry will miss the opening rounds but are expected to return for the later stages of the campaign.
The Full Squad.
Backs (16) (Alphabetical Order)
- Keith Earls
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Robbie Henshaw
- Paddy Jackson
- David Kearney
- Ian Madigan
- Kieran Marmion
- Luke Marshall
- Stuart McCloskey
- Conor Murray
- Jared Payne
- Eoin Reddan
- Jonathon Sexton
- Andrew Trimble
- Simon Zebo
Forwards (19) (Alphabetical Order)
- Rory Best (Captain)
- Sean Cronin
- James Cronin
- Ultan Dillane
- Tadhg Furlong
- Jamie Heaslip
- Rob Herring
- Mike McCarthy
- Jack McGrath
- Martin Moore
- Sean O'Brien
- Tommy O'Donnell
- Rhys Ruddock
- Donnacha Ryan
- CJ Stander
- Richardt Strauss
- Devin Toner
- Josh van der Flier
- Nathan White
Source http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/36692.php#.Vp_d2rN4seo