“Round and round and round we go, and where we stop nobody knows.” 

Perhaps English author Ben Aaronovitch was considering a role in professional rugby when he penned his 2016 novel "The Hanging Tree."

Now less than a month away from kick off of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations, international rugby fans could be forgiven for questioning whether they have been stuck in a vortex for the past 12 months.

Since France’s victorious clash with Scotland in Round 5, which snatched the title away from Irish hands after two years of residing at the IRFU headquarters in Dublin, Irish Rugby has skirted a fine line between maintaining standards while generating some much-needed fresh blood to drive both the provinces and national team back to the pinnacle of their respective competitions.

• More Information On How To Stream The Investec Champions Cup
• Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Highlights: Best Tries Of The Weekend
• Check Out More Investec Champions Cup News

In truth, that balance has not quite struck the right chord on either account, bar Leinster’s URC victory over the Vodacom Bulls on June 14, 2025.

Letting slip a golden opportunity to secure a historic three-peat of Six Nations titles with a capitulation at the hands of France in Dublin, despite Les Bleus losing their totemic leader Antoine Dupont, Andy Farrell’s squad has not yet fully gotten back on track following the coach’s well-earned sabbatical with the British and Irish Lions.

November defeats that bookended their campaign at the hands of southern rivals New Zealand and South Africa laid bare that Ireland is just a rung below the true superpowers of the game two years out from the World Cup.

Chalking off the New Zealand loss in Chicago to external factors, most notably, a late start to the bulk of the season due to the Lions, was compounded further by a red card to arguably Ireland’s most influential player, Tadhg Beirne, early in the match.

A sluggish victory over Japan and then a dismantling of a weak Wallabies side generated some momentum before their clash with the world champion Springboks at the Aviva Stadium to close out the international block.

What unfolded was a performance that belied the scoreboard, both in a negative and positive sense.

Getting the hard truth out of the way first, Ireland’s complete capitulation at scrum time and average return in the aerial game gave two clear things to work on for the national coaches.

One area that came to the fore throughout November was Ireland’s painfully conservative and head-scratching selection process.

Routinely discussed has been Ireland’s general age profile within the national setup, built on a backbone of players who have achieved heights no other Irish side would have felt possible.

Yet, as is the way with the cruel cyclical nature of professional sport, several of these players are now on the wrong side of their peaks.

At times open about what he has perceived as a lack of depth across Irish Rugby, Farrell has stuck by his trusted lieutenants, even when the general consensus was that change was needed.

This perseverance yielded a 2024 Six Nations title after the bitter disappointment of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal loss. In that campaign, key talent in the form of Joe McCarthy and Jack Crowley built on their 2023 debuts and were felt to be the key protagonists around whom Ireland would build heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Since the World Cup, Ireland has handed out 16 test debuts, most of which came on the 2025 summer tour, which, in truth, proved to be a fruitless exercise. 

Steamrolling Georgia before scoring more than 100 points against Portugal will have given the makeshift Irish coaching staff very little to report back to Farrell and company upon their return from Lions duty.

Of those 16 players, just three have played more than 10 tests in green. Those three players are Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson.

Offering a positional snapshot of the need for regeneration, the dominant trio of Irish centers Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose have accumulated 221 test appearances between them. While there can be no doubting the quality of this trio, they all are north of 30 years old.

Across the board, this trend continues, with several key contributors being closer to the end than the beginning of their careers. 

Certainly, there is scope for a handful of these players to make the trip to Australia in 2027. However, it is clear that several new faces will need a consistent run to ensure Ireland arrives at the World Cup with a squad of 33 players Farrell trusts implicitly.

With two rounds of Champions Cup action and two rounds of United Rugby Championship fixtures remaining before the opening night in Paris, the window for bold selection calls is narrowing. 

If Ireland is serious about recalibrating the squad for 2026 and beyond, these are five players who could step straight into the Six Nations environment and make an immediate impact:

Edwin Edogbo - Munster Rugby

Long heralded as the next big thing in Munster Rugby, the man from Cobh has flashed his immense potential throughout the early portions of this season.

At 6-foot-5 and 125kg, Edogbo is exactly what Farrell’s squad needs as a devilishly effective 1-2 combination with Joe McCarthy, whether as a starting pairing, or as an impact option from the bench.

While there have been injury concerns around Edogbo, under the tutelage of Munster’s new head of athletic performance, Brad Mayo, the 23-year-old is in great hands to overcome these issues.

Utilizing every bit of his significant frame, Edogbo throws his weight around in contact on both sides of the ball. In short, he has the potential to be a key piece of the puzzle as Ireland looks to solve its issues with World Rugby’s power teams.

Zac Ward - Ulster Rugby

For the first time since 2020, the Irish left wing position feels up for grabs, with James Lowe taking a noticeable step back over the past 12 months.

In this department, there are several key contenders to push the Leinster stalwart for his spot in the starting lineup.

Headlining this list is former sevens star Zac Ward, who has been nothing short of spectacular for Ulster thus far this season. 

Despite already being 27 years old, the 6-foot-3 and 104kg flyer is blessed with top-end pace, exceptional aerial skills and plenty of power in both the carry and the tackle.

Starting his career as a back-row forward, Ward is a poaching threat in the wide channels and is exactly the type of messy winger Farrell appreciates for his work rate.

Brian Gleeson - Munster Rugby

Here's another young Munster forward who started the season with a bang, only to be cut down by injury.

Now back in action, Gleeson, alongside Edogbo, feels destined for a call-up in February. 

Continuing the theme of unique athletes, the 6-foot-4 and 116kg No. 8 offers Farrell the flexibility to move Caelan Doris to the openside, if needed.

Gleeson’s ability to skittle defenders with his powerful carrying is a necessity in the modern game, while his rugby intellect has seen him routinely in the right place at the right time for Munster.

Cormac Izuchukwu - Ulster Rugby 

Yes, we are stretching the criteria a touch here, but the three-times-capped Ulster utility forward has never had a clearer path to the blindside jersey. 

With Peter O’Mahony retired and Ryan Baird sidelined with injury, the in form Izuchukwu is the perfect option for the No. 6 shirt.

Exceptional in the air as a line-out option, brutally physical in the carry and another intelligent player who always seems to be in the right place, Izuchukwu is in a position to stake his claim as a key figure in the build up to 2027.

Joshua Kenny - Leinster Rugby

Leinster’s breakthrough star Joshua JJ Kenny has sparkled every time he has pulled on the blue shirt and is a fellow product of Ireland’s now defunct sevens program.

Blessed with an X-factor that is tough to find, Kenny has a nose for the try line, pace to burn and world-class aerial skills.

The 22-year-old certainly would be a bolter given his small body of work, but as Farrell has proven on a handful of occasions, if he sees potential, he will back it.

Scoring six tries in his first five appearances, Kenny has proven his aptitude at URC level. 

The acid test will come over the next fortnight, when Leinster faces La Rochelle at home and Bayonne away. Should Kenny get the nod in either contest and play well, the temptation for a call-up could be too much for Farrell to ignore.

Jude Postlethwaite - Ulster Rugby

In what surely must be Ireland’s biggest area of focus for regeneration in 2026, Farrell has at his disposal a handful of young contenders for his old position in the midfield.

Spearheading a group that includes Dan Kelly, Hugh Cooney, Hugh Gavin and Cathal Forde is Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite.

Taking full advantage of his opportunity with the Ireland A side in November, scoring a try against Spain, the 23-year-old has continued this hot form for a high-flying Ulster team.

Built in a prototypical center mold at 6-foot-4 and 106kg, Postlethwaite brings an element of versatility with his ability to slot in at both 12 and 13.

Mixing him into the international arena alongside clubmate Stuart McCloskey would not only ensure an element of familiarity, but also allow Ireland to dominate the gain line with two powerhouse offloading centers.

As ever with a list like this, there were several contenders who could have cracked a spot. Across the board, there are a multitude of directions Farrell could go in terms of fresh faces. 

In addition to the above, below is a list of other contenders who could make an impact in 2026:

• Michael Milne, loosehead prop, Munster (two caps)
• Diarmuid Mangan, utility forward, Leinster (uncapped)
• Tom Stewart, hooker, Ulster (four caps)
• Thomas Ahern, utility forward, Munster (two caps)
• Ruadhán Quinn, back row, Munster (uncapped)
• Alex Soroka, back row, Leinster (uncapped)
• Nathan Doak, scrumhalf, Ulster (uncapped)
• Sam Illo, prop, Connacht (uncapped)
• Shayne Bolton, back three, Connacht (one cap)

How To Watch Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Matches

All Investec Champions Cup matches stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app. 

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Fixtures

Friday, Jan. 9

• 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

• 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
• 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
• 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

• 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
• 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 Fixtures

Friday, Jan. 16

• 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
• 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

• 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
• 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
• 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

• 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

How To Watch Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Matches

All EPCR Challenge Cup matches stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app. 

EPCR Challenge Cup Round 3 Fixtures

Sat, Jan. 10, 2026

• 7 a.m. ET: Stade Français Paris vs. Exeter Chiefs, Stade Jean Bouin
• 7 a.m. ET: US Montauban vs. Black Lion, Stade Sapiac
• 7 a.m. ET: Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Perpignan, Kingston Park
• 9:15 a.m. ET: Lions vs. Lyon O.U., Ellis Park
• 9:15 a.m. ET: Cardiff Rugby vs. Racing 92, Cardiff Arms Park
• 11:30 a.m. ET: Benetton Rugby vs. Dragons RFC, Stadio Monigo

Sun, Jan. 11, 2026

• 7 a.m. ET: Montpellier Hérault Rugby vs. Connacht Rugby, Septeo Stadium
• 7 a.m. ET: Zebre Parma vs. Ospreys, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
• 9:15 a.m. ET: Toyota Cheetahs vs. Ulster Rugby, NRCA Stadium

EPCR Challenge Cup Round 4 Fixtures

Fri, Jan. 16, 2026

• 2 p.m. ET: Dragons RFC vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Rodney Parade

Sat, Jan. 17, 2026

• 7 a.m. ET: Ulster Rugby vs. Stade Français Paris, Affidea Stadium
• 7 a.m. ET: Black Lion vs. Zebre Parma, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
• 11:30 a.m. ET: Perpignan vs. Lions, Stade Aimé Giral
• 2 p.m. ET: Connacht Rugby vs. US Montauban, Dexcom Stadium
• 2 p.m. ET: Ospreys vs. Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Dunraven Brewery Field

Sun, Jan. 18, 2026

• 7 a.m. ET: Exeter Chiefs vs. Cardiff Rugby, Sandy Park
• 7 a.m. ET: Lyon O.U. vs. Benetton Rugby, Matmut Stadium de Gerland
• 11:30 a.m. ET: Racing 92 vs. Toyota Cheetahs, Paris La Défense Arena

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• Gallagher PREM Rugby
• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social

• Follow us on Twitter @florugby
• Follow us on Instagram @florugby
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook