McNabney set for debut as Irish make seven changes

Ireland have made seven changes for Saturday’s Nations Championship match against Fiji, with Ulster’s James McNabney in line for a possible Test debut from the bench. The selection reflects injuries across the squad and gives Nick Timoney his first Test start at number eight, while Mack Hansen returns at full-back.

McNabney, 23, has started only once for Ulster this season after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Ireland also bring in Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O’Brien, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan; Josh van der Flier is recalled, while Dan Sheehan is unavailable with concussion. Ireland have won three of four matches and sit third in the northern hemisphere standings; Fiji are bottom of their table, without a point, and have never beaten Ireland.