Offaly man will make Six Nations debut this weekend

TULLAMORE man Cormac Izuchukwu will make his debut in the Six Nations after being picked to start in the back row for Ireland against Italy on Saturday afternoon (2.10pm kick-off).

The 26-year-old forward made his debut in the green shirt against Fiji in November, 2024 and was also capped against Georgia and Portugal last summer.

A former Tullamore Rugby Club player, the selection of Izuchukwu is one of six changes made by Ireland coach Andy Farrell after last Thursday's defeat to France in Paris.

Ireland will be hoping for a better result when they take on Italy in Lansdowne Road and Ulster player Izuchukwu replaces Josh van der Flier.

The Tullamore man's Ulster teammate, Robert Baloucoune, 28, comes in for Tommy O'Brien on the right wing.

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Izuchukwu's appearance will make it two out of two appearances in two matches for Offaly players.

Former Birr rugby player Michael Milne made an impact when he was introduced as a replacement in the match against France.

Izuchukwu played underage football and hurling with Tullamore GAA Club before making a name for himself on the rugby field with his home town rugby cub and then Ulster.

The six-foot seven-inch giant started playing rugby seriously when he moved schools to Cistercian Roscrea but his competitive sporting pedigree had already been noted.

His older brother Chinnie made his name on the track for Tullamore Harriers and their mother Catriona is a cousin of the Offaly hurling Dooleys, Joe, Billy and Johnny.

Cormac Izuchukwu was initially with Kelso RFC in Scotland and trained with the Newcastle Falcons.

Izuchukwu honed his rugby skills further with the Ireland Sevens, was picked up by the Ulster Academy in 2020 and has been on a senior contract with the province since 2021.

He recovered from a serious knee injury in his first season and was with the Emerging Ireland squad which went to South Africa in autumn 2022.

Other changes for the Italy clash see Caelan Doris teaming up with Izuchukwu in the back row and Jack Conan slotting in at no 8.

Craig Casey will be the scrum-half and James Ryan will be in the second row.

Italy will come to Dublin having already beaten Scotland in their 2026 Six Nations opener.