JOE SCHMIDT HAS called Jared Payne and Joey Carbery back into his 37-man Ireland squad for the final two rounds of the 2017 Six Nations.
Payne is back for Ireland. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
Leinster back row Jack Conan has returned to the squad too, while in-form Munster man Dave Kilcoyne has also been called up.
Ulster centre Payne returned from a kidney injury earlier than expected last weekend, featuring off the bench in Ulster’s Pro12 win over Zebre.
The 31-year-old last played for Ireland in the November Test win against Australia, when he was forced off at half time with what transpired to be a serious kidney injury.
However, he has now fully recovered and should get more game time this weekend for Ulster against Treviso, meaning he comes into contention for a place in Ireland’s match day squad for the final two rounds against Wales and England.
Carbery, meanwhile, has played three times for Leinster in recent weeks, having recovered from an ankle injury, and now returns to the Ireland squad in place of Munster’s Ian Keatley.
21-year-old Carbery made his Ireland debut last November in the win against New Zealand in Chicago, and won further caps against Canada and Australia.
Carbery had an excellent start to his Test career. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
He started at fullback for Leinster in last weekend’s win against the Dragons but is predominantly seen as an out-half by Schmidt and the Ireland coaching staff.