JOHNNY Sexton will succeed Rory Best as Ireland captain.
The Leinster fly-half, 34, is a doubt for the start of the Six Nations with a knee injury but is still named in Andy Farrell’s first squad.
Ulster backs John Cooney and Billy Burns have been rewarded for their impressive form, but Stuart McCloskey misses out. Lock Devin Toner is also included after his World Cup squad omission.
Sexton, who has 88 caps, captained Ireland from the start for the first time against Russia at the World Cup, but has long since held a leadership role within the squad.
Sexton said: “It’s a m...