Ireland begin their November Nations Championship campaign against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium tonight, Friday 6 November, with kick-off at 8.10pm Irish time. It is round four of the competition and the first of three home Tests this month. Dan Sheehan captains Ireland in place of the injured Caelan Doris, and Ireland have won all 10 of their meetings with Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland team news

Andy Farrell has made seven changes from the 21–40 defeat to New Zealand at Eden Park in July.

• Craig Casey starts at scrum-half ahead of Jamison Gibson-Park, who is among the replacements. Sam Prendergast keeps the number 10 shirt after his wrist injury.
• Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen all return to the starting XV after long injury layoffs. They missed the Six Nations and the southern series.
• Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, his first Test at the Aviva Stadium since the 2025 Six Nations.
• Robbie Henshaw starts at 13 because Garry Ringrose is out with a hamstring injury.
• Sean Jansen starts at number eight, with Doris and Jack Conan both ruled out of the November Tests. It is only his third Test.
• Nick Timoney starts at openside flanker, with Josh van der Flier among the replacements.

Ireland’s team

Ireland (caps):
15 Hugo Keenan (48), 14 Rob Baloucoune (9), 13 Robbie Henshaw (85), 12 Stuart McCloskey (31), 11 Mack Hansen (30), 10 Sam Prendergast (17), 9 Craig Casey (30); 1 Andrew Porter (79), 2 Dan Sheehan, captain (41), 3 Tadhg Furlong (88), 4 Joe McCarthy (26), 5 Tadhg Beirne (73), 6 Ryan Baird (33), 7 Nick Timoney (14), 8 Sean Jansen (2).

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher (51), 17 Tom O’Toole (24), 18 Sam Illo (1), 19 James Ryan (83), 20 Josh van der Flier (81), 21 Jamison Gibson-Park (53), 22 Ciarán Frawley (15), 23 Bundee Aki (72).

Argentina’s team

Felipe Contepomi has made 12 changes from the 28–28 draw with Australia in early September. Juan Cruz Mallía returns at full-back for the first time in a year. His return fills the gap left by the injured Santiago Carreras. Joaquin Oviedo, the Championship’s leading ball carrier, is not in the matchday 23.

Argentina (caps):
15 Juan Cruz Mallía (51), 14 Bautista Delguy (42), 13 Justo Piccardo (13), 12 Santiago Chocobares (35), 11 Mateo Carreras (36), 10 Tomás Albornoz (24), 9 Gonzalo García (19); 1 Boris Wenger (11), 2 Julián Montoya, captain (120), 3 Francisco Moreno (3), 4 Guido Petti (104), 5 Pedro Rubiolo (31), 6 Juan Martín González Samso (51), 7 Marcos Kremer (83), 8 Pablo Matera (127).

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo (3), 17 Mayco Vivas (44), 18 Joel Sclavi (32), 19 Efraín Elias (6), 20 Juan Martín Scelzo (2), 21 Simón Benítez Cruz (15), 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli (6), 23 Lucio Cinti Luna (45).

What was said

Farrell, quoted in the Irish Times, said Casey has earned his chance. “Craig deserves to play in a big game at the start of the season,” he said. He added that Casey “knows the competition is there but he’s got the shirt”.

On Timoney, Farrell said: “Nick gets to wear the seven jersey for the first game.” He then looked ahead to van der Flier’s return: “I’m sure Josh will have something to say about that” in the coming weeks.

Farrell also stressed that nobody in the squad can relax. “If ever a player feels comfortable, we’re failing the group,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure your squad is your strength,” he added, with the next 12 months in mind.

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA – JULY 18: Felipe Contepomi, Head Coach of Argentina, looks on during warm ups prior to the 2026 Nations Championship match between Argentina and England at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades on July 18, 2026 in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. (Photo by Nations Championship/Getty Images)

Contepomi played for and coached Leinster, and the Argentina head coach, quoted by The42, said he is at home in Dublin. “It’s always great to be here, and personally I feel very comfortable,” he said.

He said Ireland are the one side Argentina have yet to beat on the road. “It’s the only team we haven’t beaten away from home yet,” Contepomi said, “so it would mean a lot.”

He was candid about his side’s year, too. “We’ve been competitive but we lost more than we won,” he said. On the arrival of Shaun Edwards as defence coach, he said: “We’re very glad to have him on board.”

Head-to-head and form

Ireland lead the all-time series 14–6, with no draws, and have won all 11 meetings played in Ireland. The last 10 meetings produced nine Irish wins. The exception was Argentina’s 43–20 win at the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff. The most recent meeting was a 22–19 Ireland win at the Aviva Stadium in November 2024, in which Crowley scored a try and 12 points and Mallía scored for Argentina.

Ireland have won four of their last five Tests, and the only defeat in that run was New Zealand. In their Southern Series they beat Australia 33–31 away and Japan 36–20 on neutral ground before losing 21–40 to New Zealand.

Argentina have had a harder year. They beat Wales 35–21 in July, but lost home Tests to Scotland (38–47), England (24–31), South Africa (10–17) and Australia (21–27) before the draw with Australia. Shaun Edwards, formerly of Wales and France, has joined as defence coach and has had little time with the squad.

What comes next

Ireland host Fiji on 14 November and South Africa on 21 November, both at the Aviva Stadium. A finals-weekend game in London on 27–29 November will depend on Ireland’s group finish. An Ireland XV face Fiji ‘A’ on 20 November.

Where to watch Ireland v Argentina

Kick-off is 8.10pm GMT at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Referee: Luke Pearce.

• Ireland: Virgin Media Television (free-to-air), with streaming on Virgin Media Play.
• UK: ITV and ITVX (free, registration required).
• USA: RugbyPass TV (kick-off 3.10pm ET, 12.10pm PT).
• Australia: Stan Sport (kick-off 7.10am AEDT, Saturday 7 November).
• New Zealand: Sky Sport (kick-off 9.10am NZDT, Saturday).
• South Africa: SuperSport (kick-off 10.10pm SAST).
• France: TF1 / TFX, streaming on TF1+ (kick-off 9.10pm CET).
• Italy: Sky Sport Italia.
• Japan: Wowow (kick-off 5.10am JST, Saturday).

Argentina kick-off is 5.10pm local time. Check your local listings, as broadcasters can change.

Leinster have confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in Irish rugby this summer — Joey Carbery is returning to the province ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The 30-year-old Ireland international rejoins the club he left eight years ago, arriving from Union Bordeaux-Bègles where he won back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles over the past two seasons. His signing fills the void left by Ciarán Frawley, whose departure to United Rugby Championship rivals Connacht became official earlier this week when his contract expired.

From academy graduate to European champion

Carbery’s journey back to Leinster completes a remarkable arc in Irish rugby. A graduate of the Leinster Academy, the Auckland-born fly-half first burst onto the scene during the 2016/17 campaign, scoring 101 points across 37 appearances and earning both the Leinster Young Player of the Year and PRO12 Young Player of the Season awards.

After helping Leinster to a PRO14 and Champions Cup double in 2018, Carbery made the bold decision to move south to Munster in search of regular game time at fly-half. He went on to make 66 appearances in red, playing a key role as Munster claimed the BKT United Rugby Championship title in 2023.

A move to France followed, and Carbery’s time at Bordeaux-Bègles proved hugely productive. The French club secured consecutive Champions Cup titles, including a final victory over Leinster themselves in Bilbao in May. Carbery’s versatility was on full display in the Top 14, where he covered multiple positions across the backline, even slotting in at scrum-half.

Injury recovery and international ambitions

Carbery is currently rehabilitating a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in February during a match against Castres Olympique, an injury which effectively brought his Bordeaux career to a premature end. His immediate focus will be on regaining full fitness for the new season.

The playmaker has won 37 Ireland caps, though his last international appearance came in November 2022 during the victory over Fiji. It was during that year’s summer tour that Carbery etched himself into Irish rugby history, kicking the ball into touch to confirm the historic series win in New Zealand after featuring in all three Tests.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup now on the horizon, a return to the Irish system and regular involvement in a competitive Leinster squad could pave the way for a recall to Andy Farrell’s set-up, provided he can stay fit and rediscover his best form.

What they said

Carbery said: “I am delighted to be returning home to Leinster. I am thrilled to be joining in with Leo and the lads, there are some familiar faces and loads of new ones to get to know.

“I am working hard now to get myself fit and ready and contribute to the team as soon as possible.”

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “We are delighted to welcome Joey back to Leinster Rugby. Joey and his family have been huge contributors to the province over many years and it certainly feels like a homecoming for Joey.

“He has gained plenty of valuable experience over the last number of years and we are all keen to learn from each other over the coming months as we look to compete in a new season.”

What this means for Leinster

Carbery’s return brings considerable experience and European pedigree to a Leinster squad still smarting from their Champions Cup final defeat. Much like the man he replaces in Frawley, Carbery offers genuine versatility across the backline, capable of operating at fly-half, inside centre, full-back, and even scrum-half if required.

That positional flexibility, combined with a CV that includes provincial titles in both Ireland and France as well as European medals, makes this a shrewd piece of recruitment from Cullen’s coaching team. At 30 and with a cruciate rehabilitation ahead of him, questions will naturally arise about his durability — but if Carbery can recapture his best form, Leinster will have added a player of genuine international quality to their ranks for the season ahead.

Leo Cullen will step away from his role as Leinster Rugby head coach at the conclusion of the 2026/27 season, bringing to an end a remarkable 12-year tenure that has yielded seven trophies and established the province as the dominant force in the United Rugby Championship.

The announcement, confirmed by Leinster on Monday morning, comes just three days after Cullen guided the province to a sixth URC title with a commanding 36–7 victory over the Bulls in the Grand Final at Croke Park. Leinster, in collaboration with the IRFU, will immediately begin a formal recruitment process to identify his successor.

Cullen, who first represented Leinster as a Schools player 32 years ago, acknowledged that the time felt right to seek a new challenge after more than a decade at the helm.

“By the end of next season, in 2027, I will have been in my current job for 12 years. It’ll also be 32 years since I first represented Leinster as a Schools player! So, I think the timing will be right for me to move on to a new challenge,” Cullen said.

“I managed 10 years as a player on different Leinster teams before moving to Leicester in 2005 and then returning to Leinster in 2007 to go on to experience some of the most amazing days imaginable.”

A trophy-laden tenure

The former Ireland and Leinster lock retired from playing in 2014 and initially remained at the province as a forwards coach before taking the head coach role in 2015. What followed was a period of sustained success that few coaches in European rugby can rival.

Under Cullen’s stewardship, Leinster claimed six URC titles and a Champions Cup in 2018, when they defeated Racing 92 in the final — making Cullen the first person to win European rugby’s premier trophy as both a player and a coach, having lifted the trophy three times during his playing career.

Yet his tenure will also carry the weight of near misses on the European stage. Leinster were defeated in the Champions Cup final in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and most recently in 2026, when they fell to Bordeaux Bègles at the end of May. Those defeats have been a source of frustration for a province that has otherwise dominated the domestic landscape.

Commitment to next season

Cullen was keen to emphasise that he remains fully committed to the upcoming campaign, with Leinster set to return to the newly renamed Laya Arena and with significant squad turnover expected over the summer.

“As many of you will know, I’m committed to Leinster up until the end of next season, and I intend to honour my contract, as I always have done,” he said.

“We’re moving back to Laya Arena at the start of next season, and we can’t wait for that homecoming. We also have players leaving Leinster and other players who’ll potentially be coming in. So, I think it’s good to have continuity and certainty heading into the summer.”

He also praised the structures around him at the province, expressing confidence that the transition would be handled smoothly.

“We have a fantastic group of coaches, staff and players here and I know the club will do everything to ensure continuity and stability – two cornerstones of Leinster Rugby,” Cullen added.

“I want to thank the Leinster Professional Game Board, in particular Shane Nolan, Guy Easterby and Frank Doherty, for their support throughout this process and indeed during my time as Leinster Head Coach.”

Tributes from the province

Leinster CEO Shane Nolan paid a warm tribute to the outgoing head coach, highlighting the scale of his achievements both on and off the pitch.

“I would like to thank Leo for everything he has done as the Head Coach of Leinster Rugby, his achievements in the role speak for themselves, including winning seven trophies in 11 years culminating in a brilliant URC Grand Final win at Croke Park last Friday,” Nolan said.

“Leo has been a great player, coach and leader for Leinster and will always be held in the highest regard by anyone that has ever been fortunate enough to work with him.”

Nolan confirmed that the search for a new head coach was already under way, with Leinster and the IRFU working together on the process.

“We have begun the process to recruit our new Head Coach and will work to ensure that we secure the best possible candidate to continue the success of Leinster Rugby,” he said.

What comes next

The recruitment process will attract significant interest across the rugby world. Leinster’s resources, player pool and competitive record make the position one of the most attractive coaching roles in the Northern Hemisphere. The successful candidate will inherit a squad that has consistently competed at the highest level and will be expected to deliver the European success that has eluded the province since 2018.

For Cullen, the 2026/27 season represents one final chapter in a Leinster story spanning more than three decades. His coaching team, already well advanced in their preparations for the new campaign, will continue to drive the standards that have defined his time in charge. Whether he can sign off with an elusive second Champions Cup remains the tantalising question that will follow him through his farewell season.