Six Nations: Ireland and France forced to make changes to their squads but Iain Henderson and superstar Damian Penaud still miss out

Ulster captain Iain Henderson remains a notable absentee from Ireland's 37-strong squad for the forthcoming Six Nations.

Second row Henderson has won 85 caps for Ireland since his debut in 2012 but the 33-year-old has not been included for the 2026 tournament, which kicks off on February 5.

Henderson was not included in Ireland’s initial squad and he was not called up as injury cover after Munster’s Tom Ahern failed to recover from a neck injury in time as Cormac Izuchukwu has been given the nod instead.

Ireland have significant injury concerns ahead of the Six Nations with Leinster prop Andrew Porter set to miss the start of the tournament because of a calf injury alongside Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle.

Billy Bohan has been called up in place of Boyle, the latest to be sidelined, meaning Ireland’s three loosehead props have seven caps between them.

Robbie Henshaw, Calvin Nash and Jimmy O'Brien are also unavailable and there are two more uncapped players alongside Bohan in Andy Farrell's squad - Munster back row Edwin Edogbo and Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak.

Ireland will be aiming for an improvement on last year, when they finished third in the tournament behind winners France and runners-up England.

They will open their campaign with a mouth-watering clash against France in Paris on Thursday, February 5.

The tournament is starting early to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - on February 6.

Ireland host Italy the following weekend before a clash with old rivals England at Twickenham.

Farrell's men will finish up in March with two more home matches against Wales and Scotland.

"I believe that we have a talented and committed group who have the aptitude and drive to bring success to Ireland over the coming weeks," Farrell said.

"The Six Nations is an incredible tournament which brings out the best in players, and I have no doubt that these fixtures will be keenly contested once more."

Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

France superstar Damian Penaud has been left out of their squad for the Six Nations.

The nation's all-time record try scorer has not been having his strongest season but his omission still comes as a surprise.

The 29-year-old wing has scored 40 tries in 59 appearances for his country and started all three of France's autumn internationals in November.

But his strike rate of eight tries in 16 appearances for club Bordeaux and country compares unfavourably with his efforts in 2024/25, when he crossed for 27 tries in 26 appearances.

Coach Fabien Galthie has rung the changes in all positions, with back row Gregory Alldritt - captain of the side in the wake of Antoine Dupont's injury at last year's Six Nations - and veteran centre Gael Fickou also left out.

Meanwhile, Dublin-born Joshua Brennan has been called up to the lock stable for the opening game against Ireland as Toulouse team-mate Thibault Flament is unable to play because the game clashes with his wife's fertility treatment.

Following their opener against Ireland, France face Wales in Cardiff before hosting Italy.

Their last two games in March are away in Scotland and at home to England in the final match of the tournament, on March 14.

Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Hugo Auradou, Cyril Baille, Paul Boudehent, Joshua Brennan, Francois Cros, Alexandre Fischer, Thibaud Flament, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickael Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Julien Marchand, Temo Matiu, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Regis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Dany Priso, Thomas Staniforth, Tevita Tatafu, Cameron Woki

Backs: Gregoire Arfeuil, Theo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Romain Buros, Thibault Daubagna, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Drean, Antoine Dupont, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Matthieu Jalibert, Yoram Moefana, Noah Nene, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Ugo Seunes.

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