​Tadhg Beirne has revealed that captaining Ireland for the first time in Saturday’s Nations Championship encounter with Japan will encompass a “special, special moment” for him and his family. The 34-year-old forward, who was appointed Munster captain in 2024 and led the British and Irish Lions in last year’s win over the Waratahs in Sydney, will take charge of Ireland from the outset as they meet Japan in Newcastle, New South Wales (kick-off 11:10 BST). Tour skipper Dan Sheehan will be rested as Beirne steps into the role of on-field leader.
“It’s a huge honour. Of course it is,” Beirne stated. “I’ve had the honour of captaining on the field when our main guys haven’t been there, Dan and Caelan [Doris]. But to lead the lads out from the start, again I revert to that word ‘special,’ because it is a special, special moment for me and my family.”
Beirne’s call into the starting line-up comes after he spent time rebuilding following a knee injury that sidelined him late in Munster’s season. He made a notable impact as a replacement in last week’s tight 33-31 victory over Australia, and his selection in the second row is part of nine changes implemented by head coach Andy Farrell for the Japan clash. While Beirne spoke proudly of Ireland’s ability to come from behind to defeat the Wallabies, he also acknowledged that the team still has areas to sharpen, particularly defensively.
“There are a lot of positives, obviously,” he reflected. “The fight from everyone to stay in it and come from behind was really pleasing. But I think there are a lot of areas of the game where we probably weren’t particularly happy with the way we did things. Our defence wasn’t where it needed to be physically, and credit to the Aussies — they played incredibly well.”
Turning his attention to Japan, Beirne noted that Eddie Jones’s side have a track record of playing fast, high-tempo rugby. Japan’s solitary victory against Ireland in 11 meetings came at the 2019 World Cup, but Saturday’s match-up arrives as Jones’s team arrive in fine form after opening the Nations Championship with a convincing 27-10 win over Italy in Tokyo. Beirne highlighted the challenge of matching Japan’s tempo while also imposing their own physical presence on the game.
“They play fast rugby. I’ve played them before; they like to keep the tempo of the game up — it’s on us to match that,” Beirne said. “But especially physically, I think that’s going to be a big area of the game where we’re going to have to put a stamp on it.”
For Ireland, the task is clear: demonstrate leadership from the pack, maintain composure under pressure, and execute a defensive structure that can withstand Japan’s pace. Beirne’s elevation to the captaincy adds another dimension to an Ireland side looking to build consistency ahead of more demanding assignments. As he prepares to lead out his teammates at a home of rugby that may feel distant to some Irish fans, he does so with the weight of expectation balanced by his own personal sense of pride.
The match against Japan will test how Ireland can translate a strong finish against Australia into a more complete performance across the 80 minutes. With Beirne and a reorganised pack intent on imposing a physical challenge while also maintaining sharpness at the breakdown and in defensive lines, Ireland will be aiming to start the campaign with a statement performance.
As ever, Farrell’s selection suggests a willingness to freshen up the squad while rewarding players who have shown resilience and capability in recent weeks. Beirne’s leadership will be central to Ireland’s plans, and his own words reflect a desire to harness that moment for both personal significance and team success. In what promises to be a demanding test against Japan, the Irish forwards will look to set the tone early, creating parity in the scrum, dominance at the breakdown, and a sustained, accurate attacking game to outpace a fast, well-coached Japanese side.