Uncapped Conan & White in extended Irish squad

Leinster backrow Jack Conan and Connacht prop Nathan White are the only uncapped players named in an extended Ireland squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France.

Leinster duo Cian Healy and Sean O'Brien are both named in the squad as they continue to recover from injury.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt's decision not to send the influential forward pair back to Leinster to continue their recovery increases their chances of turning out for the Irish Wolfhounds' clash with England Saxons on Friday, 30 January.

Robin Copeland, David Kilcoyne, Luke Marshall, Donncha Ryan and Andrew Trimble will remain with their provinces to continue their recovery or to gain game time and may yet return for later Six Nations test matches.

Injury doubts remain over Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw, but all three have been included in the extended squad.

"The coaching group have tried to strike a balance between some players getting the chance to fully complete their rehabilitation programmes, or get a bit of rest and others getting the opportunity to push their claims with further game time in the Wolfhounds fixture," said Schmidt.

Racing Metro fly-half Sexton could miss the first two rounds of fixtures while he completes a 12-week lay-off after suffering four concussions in 12 months.

Munster scrum-half Murray is carrying a disc problem in his neck but the severity of the issue remains unclear, while Henshaw is battling a "low-grade" ankle ligament problem.

Among the longer-term injured group are Chris Henry, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Dan Tuohyand Damien Varley who are unavailable for selection.

Bullish flanker O'Brien has not featured for Ireland since damaging his shoulder in the 24-22 Test defeat to New Zealand in November 2013.

The 27-year-old has had to undergo two successive operations on the same shoulder, but is finally nearing fitness.

Ball-carrying prop Healy suffered a severe hamstring tear in September and has been grafting towards Six Nations fitness ever since.

Ireland's opening fixture of the Six Nations is against Italy in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday 7 February.

Philipe Saint Andre's French side visit Dublin seven days later and Ireland then host England at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday 1 March.

Ireland's two home games in the Aviva Stadium are sold out.

The Ireland Wolfhounds team to take on the England Saxons on 30 January in Cork will also be drawn from this pool of 46 players.

Extended Ireland squad: (Forwards) Michael Bent, Rory Best, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin James Cronin, Robbie Diack, Dave Foley, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Jordi Murphy, Sean O'Brien, Paul O'Connell, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, Nathan White.

Backs: Isaac Boss, Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy,
Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Felix Jones, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Ian Keatley, Ian Madigan,
Kieran Marmion, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Jared Payne,
Eoin Reddan, Noel Reid, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Zebo.

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