Benson and McNabney earn first Ireland call-ups as Sheehan takes captaincy

Jamie Benson and James McNabney have received their first Ireland call-ups as Andy Farrell named his squad for November's Nations Championship fixtures, BBC Sport reported. The Ulster pair are included in a selection affected by several injuries, with Dan Sheehan taking over the captaincy in the absence of his injured Leinster team-mate Caelan Doris.

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Benson, 24, moved to Ulster from Harlequins during the off-season after previously representing England at under-20 level. He qualifies for Ireland through his mother, who was born in Belfast. Although most of his appearances for Ulster so far have been at centre, he also offers an option at fly-half.

McNabney's inclusion follows his return to playing over the summer after an ACL injury kept him out for a year. The 23-year-old back-row forward has previously taken part in Ireland training squads, but this is his first call-up. He joins a forward group that also includes Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier.

Farrell welcomes back Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Mack Hansen and Tommy O'Brien, all of whom missed Ireland's summer matches. Jamison Gibson-Park is also selected even though the scrum-half has not played for Leinster this season. Craig Casey and Nathan Doak are among the other backs named in the squad.

The absences extend beyond Doris. Fly-half Jack Crowley is unavailable through injury, along with Jack Boyle, Harry Byrne, Jack Conan, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward. Meanwhile, Ulster's Zac Ward and Cormac Izuchukwu have not been selected, and Munster prop Jeremy Loughman also misses out.

Ireland begin their November programme against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, 6 November, before welcoming Fiji to Dublin on 14 November. World champions South Africa then visit on 21 November. Those three home matches precede the competition's finals weekend at the Allianz Stadium in London the following week.

The November fixtures continue a Nations Championship campaign that began with two victories and one defeat for Ireland during the summer. Farrell's side beat Australia and Japan before losing to New Zealand in their third Test. The newly selected Ulster duo now join the squad for the next stage of that campaign.