Mayo men on Ireland squad for November internationals

Two Mayo men have been selected in the 37-man Irish squad for the Bank of Ireland Nations Series next month.

Dave Heffernan of Connacht and Caelan Doris of Leinster, who both played mini rugby for Ballina RFC at the start of their journeys in the sport, have been included for three big games against world champions South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

All three games will be played at the Aviva Stadium, with the Springboks up first on Saturday, November 5 (5.30 p.m.). It will Ireland's first meeting with South Africa in six years.

That game will be followed by a test against Fiji on Saturday, November 12 (1 p.m.), while the series will conclude against Australia on Saturday, November 19 (8 p.m.).

So far in their Ireland careers, Doris has amassed 20 caps and Heffernan has earned seven. The squad, which includes six uncapped players (Ciaran Frawley, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien and Cian Prendergast), will be captained by Johnny Sexton.

Meanwhile, the IRFU has announced the names of 85 players selected for the National Talent Squad programme and three Ballina RFC players have been selected.

Fiachna Barrett is named in the National Talent Squad Level 1 (players who have left secondary school), Blayze Molloy has been selected for National Talent Squad Level 2 (players in their final year in secondary school), and Sean Hopkins has been selected for the National Talent Squad Level 3 (players with two or more years left in secondary school).

In existence since 2016, the National Talent Squad programme was developed to identify, develop and support players who have the potential, ability and drive to play professional rugby within Ireland.

The aim of the programme is to accelerate the development of young players of national interest between the ages of 16 and 21. The services provided prepare players to perform within the provincial and national pathways and the transition to the senior professional game.