Andy Farrell lines up four potential replacements for CJ Stander

The confirmation of Ireland's Summer Series squad has officially brought an end to CJ Stander's playing career both in and for Ireland. 

The 31-year-old made 51 appearances in the Green jersey coming off the bench just three times during that period. A mainstay in the squad since making his test debut against Wales back in 2016, Stander leaves a massive void in the Ireland squad that Andy Farrell will be looking to fill sooner rather than later.

Farrell has started the process of replacing Stander by including four potential replacements in the squad to face Japan and the USA in the first two weeks of July. 

British and Irish Lion Jack Conan is bound to be in the running as well but Caelan Doris will be widely tipped to start in the no.8 jersey for the two tests while Conan is with the Lions in South Africa.

Stander operated mostly at no.8 but it was not uncommon for him to pack down on the blindside of the scrum. Doris is highly rated and has all the attributes to be one of the best no.8s in world rugby.

However, the Leinster no.8 does not have a clear route to the jersey with promising talents like Gavin Coombes set to rival him for a starting jumper. Coombes is set to fill Stander's void at Munster and could well do the same having been included as one of 11 uncapped players in the squad. 

24-year-old Paul Boyle has also been named in the squad and after a standout season with Connacht as too has Ulster's Nick Timoney (25).

Ireland Squad – Summer Series
Backs (17)
Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped
Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap
Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps

Forwards (20)
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
Paul Boyle (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped

Selected for British & Irish Lions Tour:
Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Andrew Porter (inj)