Ryan made his international debut at the age of 20 against the USA in New Jersey in 2017.  He won his 51st cap for Ireland against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Round three of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations in what was his seventh occasion captaining the senior national team. 

For Ireland he played a central role in the 2018 and 2023 Grand Slam successes along with the Triple Crown secured in 2022. He started all three Tests against New Zealand in July securing a first Series win in Aotearoa. Ryan also played in four of Ireland’s matches at RWC19.

At Leinster, James Ryan has he won a Heineken European Champions Cup (2018) and four PRO/URC titles (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), and has made 71 appearances for Leinster scoring four tries.

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The Irish international will now look to increase his training workload this week as he edges closer to a return to the pitch.

In line with World Rugby protocols, James will continue to be monitored including seeing an independent concussion consultant as part of his return to competitive action.

There are a number of Leinster players that require further assessment this week before a final decision is made on their inclusion or not this week.

Jamison Gibson-Park will be further assessed this week for a thigh injury, as will Max Deegan who sustained an injury to his mouth during the game against Ulster Rugby.

Deegan came on for Dan Leavy in the first half of the game on Saturday and Leavy has now entered the Graduated Return to Play Protocols.

There was no new update on the following players:

Jack Conan (quad), Johnny Sexton (knee and ankle), Conor O’Brien (hamstring), Dave Kearney (back), Michael Milne (calf), Rory O’Loughlin (shoulder)

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The Irish international suffered a head injury in the national side’s 53-7 rout of Argentina at the weekend and has entered Leinster’s Return to Play protocols.

The second-rower will miss the team’s first interprovincial game of the season against Ulster on Saturday night but McBryde knows that it is for the best to put Ryan’s health first.

“We’ll be led by the medics. I don’t think it’s just confined to Leinster. It’s throughout world rugby at the moment with regards to trying to lessen these impacts and making sure that we look after the player. Put their health first,” McBryde said.

“You’ve just got to go through those protocols and trust that they’re in the best hands. I’m sure they are. We’ll just have to wait and see on that one.”

Leinster have a 10-game stretch on the horizon after the end of the international window and will tap into their depth throughout those ten weeks.

In the case of their first match of that block against Ulster, first-team players such as Ryan, Jack Conan (quad) and captain Jonathan Sexton (knee and ankle) will not be available for selection.

McBryde applauds the province’s strength-in-depth and believes it will shine positively on the most recent league champions in the coming weeks, with their European fixtures also set to kick-off soon.

“The guys back here have been working hard for this past month and I know they’re ready to take an opportunity if it comes their way.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got good strength-in-depth, so we can afford to treat each individual case with regards to how much minutes they’ve played etc. Make sure they don’t get burn out.

“Because it’s going to be a busy schedule ahead of us, this next block of games for us. We’re into the interpros and then we’re into Europe.

“Back into the interpros and then they’re straight into the Six Nations after going back into Europe.

“It’s a big block of games, but we have got strength in depth. We’ve got quality. Hopefully, we’ll be able to manage everybody and make sure none of them get that burnt-out feeling.”

The game this week is Leinster’s first matchup of the United Rugby Championship’s new Irish Shield – points in this match go towards both the regular-season table and a smaller table with all four provinces.

Ulster come into the match against the unbeaten Pro 14 champions off the back of a heavy defeat to Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.

However, McBryde knows the quality of the opponent that his team are scheduled to face this weekend.

“They proved difficult in the last game we played them in the Rainbow Cup. They’re big men, they’ve got good go-forward.

“They carry hard, they make it really difficult for the opposition to get their game going as well.

“It will be a big test for us, but it will be hopefully one that we can stand up to and show some of the work we’ve done in the past month as well with these guys.

“We haven’t been standing still, we’ve been working on one or two things and hopefully we’ll see that come to the fore on Saturday.”

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Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out of the final game of the Autumns Nations Series against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium this coming Sunday.

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The 23-man matchday squad was carved out of the 36-man squad available for selection.

The starting lineup is filled with players familiar with the Irish setup and the bench features some international prospects.

Dave Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham will line up on either side of Ronan Kelleher, who had recently with Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions.

James Ryan returns to the starting lineup as captain and is paired with Ultan Dillane at lock forward.

Peter O’Mahony, Josh Van Der Flier and Caelan Doris round off the starting forwards in the back row.

Jamison Gibson-Park will wear the number nine shirt while Joey Carbery makes his first appearance in green since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell provide a veteran presence at inside and outside centre.

Jacob Stockdale, Jordan Larmour and Hugo Keenan fill out the back three.

Rob Herring and Billy Burns are joined by the uncapped Gavin Coombes and others on the bench.

The game will be available to watch on RTÉ 2 with coverage starting at 12:30 pm.

Ireland Team v Japan

Backs

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps
13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps
10. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps

Forwards

1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps Captain
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps

Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
18. John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
20. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
23. Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap

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Among the match day 23 named by Farrell is the uncapped Cork Constitution man Shane Daly, who is named among the replacements.

Changes from last weekend

In a largely changed side to the team that played England last weekend, James Ryan remains as captain.

The front row is made up of Finlay Bealham at loosehead, Rob Herring as hooker and Andrew Power continuing at tighthead prop.

The Ireland captain James Ryan is joined in the second row by Iain Henderson.

Tadhg Beirne is named as blindside flanker, Will Connors at openside, with CJ Stander chosen at No. 8.

Conor Murray returns to the scrum-half role and will play alongside Billy Burns who makes his first starting appearance as out-half.

Bangor’s Stuart McCloskey will partner Chris Farrell in the centre.

Keith Earls and Hugo Keenan are named on the wings with Jacob Stockdale chosen at fullback.

Shane Daly among the replacements

Alongside the uncapped Shane Daly on the bench will be plenty experience in the shape of Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony, who have over 170 International caps between them.

Three Connacht players, namely Dave Heffernan, Quinn Roux and Kieran Marmion are also named among the replacements.

Munster’s John Ryan and Ross Byrne, who started at number 10 against England at Twickenham last weekend, are the other players among the 23-man match day squad.

The game kicks off at 2pm on Sunday next, with live coverage on both RTÉ and Channel 4.

Ireland Team

15. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Hugo Keenan, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Keith Earls, 10. Billy Burns, 9. Conor Murray.

1. Finlay Bealham, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Andrew Porter, 4. Iain Henderson, 5. James Ryan (captain), 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Will Connors, 8. CJ Stander.

Ireland Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Cian Healy, 18. John Ryan, 19. Quinn Roux, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Shane Daly.

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