Ulster hooker Stewart to lead Ireland XV in Spain

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has won five Ireland caps

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart will captain an Ireland XV against Spain in Leganes on Saturday, 8 November.

Stewart will lead a 28-strong panel which consists of test-capped Ireland players, in-form provincial players and emerging talent.

The 24-year-old is one of nine players who have appeared for Ireland's senior team alongside Tom O'Toole, Michael Milne, Darragh Murray, Robert Baloucoune, Shayne Bolton, Harry Byrne, Michael Lowry and Ben Murphy.

Scott Wilson, David McCann, Nathan Doak, Jack Murphy, Jude Postlehwaite and former Ireland sevens star Zac Ward join Stewart, O'Toole, Baloucoune and Lowry in a 10-strong Ulster contingent for the game against Spain, who came second in the Europe International Championship behind Georgia.

Cullie Tucker, who was part of Ireland's summer coaching team in Georgia and Portugal, will be head coach for the game in Spain, which takes place after Andy Farrell's senior team host Japan in Dublin at 12:30 GMT.

Ireland XV Squad

Forwards: Lee Barron (Munster), James Culhane (Leinster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), David McCann (Ulster), John McKee (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Evan O'Connell (Munster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Ruadhan Quinn (Munster), Alex Soroka (Leinster), Tom Stewart - captain (Ulster), Alex Usanov (Leinster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs: Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Michael Lowry (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).