Irish Rugby

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Ulster forward David McCann and back Jake Flannery have both signed new deals with the province.

McCann had signed a new two-year contract which ties him down to the province until 2028 while Flannery has penned a one-year extension until 2027.

Back row McCann has featured in every United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup game for Richie Murphy's side this season, starting 13 of their 15 fixtures.

Ulster's 2023-24 player of the year, the 25-year-old also featured for Ireland A in the emphatic win over Spain in November but is yet to make his debut for the senior international side.

"I am pleased to be continuing at Ulster, the team has shown this season the journey we are on and I feel proud to be a part of that," said the former Ireland under-20 captain, who made his Ulster debut in 2020.

"I want to push myself to play at the highest level, be successful doing this and Ulster is a great place to achieve those goals."

Versatile Flannery, who can operate at fly-half, centre and full-back, joined Ulster from Munster in 2022 and has made over 30 appearances for the province.

'I'm happy to be signing on for another season with Ulster. I feel I am progressing and enjoying a run of fitness after a challenging season last year," he said.

"Our team is playing with more confidence, and the attack has been really clicking, which is fun to be a part of. We are a close group and I'm very motivated to play my part in chasing success in the future.''

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Ireland will bookend the 2027 Six Nations with late kick-offs against England and France in Dublin either side of three successive away games.

Having opened this year's tournament with a late Friday game against France in Paris, Ireland will host England in Dublin in next year's Friday curtain-raiser on 5 February.

Ireland then travel to Italy, Wales and Scotland before concluding the championship at home to France in the final game on 13 March.

In addition to the England and France fixtures, Ireland's match against Scotland at Murrayfield will be a late kick-off.

2027 Six Nations fixtures (times GMT)

Round 1

Ireland v England - Friday 5 February (20:10)

Scotland v Italy - Saturday 6 February (14:10)

France v Wales - Saturday 6 February (16:40)

Round 2

Italy v Ireland - Saturday 13 February (14:10)

Scotland v Wales - Saturday 13 February (16:40)

England v France - Sunday 14 February (15:10)

Round 3

Wales v Ireland - Saturday 20 February (14:10)

England v Italy - Saturday 20 February (16:40)

France v Scotland - Sunday 21 February (15:10)

Round 4

Scotland v Ireland - Friday 5 March (20:10)

Italy v France - Saturday 6 March (14:10)

Wales v England - Saturday 6 March (16:40)

Round 5

Italy v Wales - Saturday 13 March (14:10)

England v Scotland - Saturday 13 March (16:40)

Ireland v France - Saturday 13 March (20:10)

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Jamie Osborne says he and his Ireland's team-mates "can't kick loosely" against Wales' danger men in Friday's Six Nations clash in Dublin [20:10 GMT].

Despite the Welsh heading into the game without a win in this year's championship, Steve Tandy's side produced a much improved performance in the 26-23 defeat by Scotland in round three, having previously been well beaten by England and France.

While Ireland will go into the fixture as heavy favourites following their 42-21 win over England a Twickenham, the mood music in Andy Farrell's camp is one of caution.

They suffered their own heavy defeat by France and although they saw off Italy in round two, it was far from perfect and Osborne is aware a slip in standards will spell trouble with the full-back identifying his opposite number Louis Rees-Zammit as one major threat that must be shut down.

"A lot of their game runs through Tomos Williams so it will be important for us to try and stop him," the 24-year-old told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday.

"Then if you look at Louis Rees-Zammit in broken play, he's beaten so many defenders in the tournament already and will be a threat, so you can't kick loosely.

"After England, everyone feels a bit better about themselves but it's important not to get too far ahead of ourselves as the first game in France didn't go too well, so it doesn't mean we're a completely different team two weeks later."

Osborne feels his run of games at full-back for Ireland has helped him grow into the number 15 jersey and enjoys the facets of the position.

"The aerial and kicking game is a big part of the game at the moment," Osborne continued.

"There are a lot of contests and we, as a back three, have really been going after that in the Six Nations. The progress from Paris to Twickenham has been really good in that area and it really suits my game."

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Bundee Aki has returned to the Ireland squad for Friday's Six Nations game against Wales in Dublin (20:10 GMT), while Leinster pair Jimmy O'Brien and Robbie Henshaw are also back in contention.

Aki was handed a four-match ban in January for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials in Connacht's United Rugby Championship (URC) loss to Leinster in January.

That kept the 35-year-old out of his province's URC game against Leinster and Ireland's first three games in the Six Nations, but is now back with the squad.

O'Brien has also linked up with the squad and Henshaw is expected to return early this week after they both played the full 80 minutes in Leinster's 8-7 URC defeat by Cardiff on Friday.

Both were left out of Andy Farrell's initial 37-man squad for the Six Nations because of injury, but their return will bolster Ireland's options with James Lowe ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a groin injury.

Fly-half Harry Byrne suffered a concussion in Leinster's defeat on Friday and is out, while Cormac Izuchukwu continues his graduated return to play protocols and will join the squad alongside the other nine players who have also returned to camp.

Farrell will name his team on Wednesday afternoon.