Cape Town - Former Bulls loose forward CJ Stander has been included in Ireland’s 35-man Six Nations squad.
Stander, 25, has been a star performer for Munster since leaving the Bulls in 2012, and has now qualified to play for his adopted country.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt named Ulster hooker Rory Best as the new captain, while Stander is one of four uncapped players in the squad, with the others being Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier and Stuart McCloskey.
Irish Six Nations Squad
Forwards (19):
Rory Best (Ulster, capt), Sean Cronin (Leinster), James Cronin (Munster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht)
Backs (16):
Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), David Kearney (Leinster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster)