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The Ireland wing left Leinster at the end of the season after weeks of speculation
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has not ruled out selecting James Lowe for his 2027 Rugby World Cup squad, but admits the wing is unlikely to represent his country again while playing in Japan.
Lowe left Leinster at the end of the season after weeks of speculation, with it later revealed that he had a deal to stay in Ireland with the URC winners until next year’s World Cup withdrawn at the last minute, before being offered half the money.
He has been heavily linked with a move to Japan to replace Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe at Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, with that expected switch set to end his Test career just over a year out from the World Cup.
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With the exception of Johnny Sexton during his two-year spell with Racing 92 in France, the Irish Rugby Football Union has stuck by its policy of only selecting players who play for one of the four provinces.
However, while he admits he is “disappointed” at Lowe’s exit, Farrell has refused to shut the door completely on the wing adding to his tally of 45 international caps.
Asked about the IRFU’s policy on selecting overseas players, the head coach said: “You know that we’ve held the line with that for many, many years and whatever, but we’ll see how that plays out in the next 12 months.
“I mean, if we don’t develop someone and bring someone through… I mean, push come to shove, we probably could have brought him out here. But is it the right thing to do to not develop someone and give people a chance?
“I think it’s the right thing to do, to have a look and give people a bit of space to be able to do that. We’ll see how that goes.”
Farrell added that Lowe will be “thoroughly missed” in the Ireland set-up, but insisted that the squad needed to move on, with new talents set to make their mark on the international stage.
“Somebody has to step up and take that mantle that James has done over the last number of years, superbly for Ireland,” he said.
“But at the same time, it’s the same every campaign, every year. Something happens that takes you by surprise a little bit, and I suppose it’s the same as us missing Caelan Doris on this tour, Ryan Baird on this tour, Paddy McCarthy, all of that.
“That’s just rugby and that’s just life and the stars didn’t align for whatever reason,” Farrell added.
“I certainly wish him all the best. I have done. I thanked him for everything that he’s done for Irish rugby.”
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