Connacht centre Darren Yapp has been drafted into the Irish squad.
The 29-year-old has received the call-up from Eddie O'Sullivan after a string of impressive displays.
Yapp joins Connacht hooker Bernard Jackman in the squad as Ireland prepare for their Six Nations clash against Italy at Lansdowne Road on March 20.
Yapp has played close on 60 times for Connacht since he joined the side almost four years ago and was voted Connacht Player of the Season the year before last.
He has been one of the key figures this season in Connacht's march to the semi-finals of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and scored a hat-trick of tries in the Celtic Cup semi-final against Edinburgh.