| Dates: 2 February-16 March |
| Coverage: Selected matches on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer with live text commentary and BBC Radio 5 Live commentary on every match. |
Peter O’Mahony has described his appointment as Ireland captain for their Six Nations title defence as “the biggest honour of his career”.
The veteran Munster flanker succeeds Johnny Sexton, who retired from rugby after last year’s World Cup in France.
The 34-year-old has won 101 caps and has previously captained Ireland 10 times since making his debut in 2010.
“I have been in the leadership group for a long time but to be captain is very, very special,” said O’Mahony.
“I’ve captained a few different teams I’ve played with and I’ve always enjoyed it.
“The leadership group I’ll have around me is very important. I’ll be looking to them to help me along the way.
“You have a group of guys and that group is getting bigger and bigger with the squad. We’ll all be rowing in together.”
O’Mahony, who recently returned to action after a shoulder injury, captained the British and Irish Lions in their opening Test against New Zealand in 2017.
The forward had said he was unsure about his Ireland future following their World Cup quarter-final exit to the All Blacks in October before stepping down as Munster captain in November after 10 years in the role.
His contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season.
‘A really great place to be’
“I got a phone call from Andy and was a little bit taken aback to be honest. There was a bit of a pause on the phone but a special phone call to get and a special feeling,” O’Mahony said.
“Not a lot of people have got to do the job and I was thrilled to be asked by Andy. I was a bit surprised. I kind of said, ‘are you sure?’, but we had a good chat.
“It’s an unbelievably exciting squad. I love driving up to camp and meeting up with the group again. It’s a great group of people, that’s top of the tree for me to have a great group of people you can get on with and trust.
“Not just the players, the whole squad and the staff we have. It’s a really great place to be, a really great environment. Every day you get the email to say you are selected is always a good day.”
This week, Farrell’s squad will gather for the first time since the World Cup and their bid to repeat the Grand Slam they achieved last season will commence with a testing trip to face the French in Marseille on 2 February.
“I’m sure we’ll have a look back, where we can improve on. Obviously we haven’t been together since the All Blacks game. Andy will have his plan and we all know the game moves on and we need to get better,” observed O’Mahony.
“It’s always been about looking forward for this team and we have a big, big test away in France so we need to get stuck into a bit of work.
“It’s an incredible venue Marseille, and I’d imagine it will be an incredible atmosphere too. What an occasion, what a Test match, to start the Six Nations.
“The Six Nations is incredibly special. There’s huge excitement. There has to be when it comes to international rugby and a competition like this. There are exciting squads and the talent is incredible.”
O’Mahony ‘fantastic around the group’
Ireland coach Farrell confirmed that Ireland “will certainly be looking back as there are plenty of lessons to be learned, good and bad” following their last-eight exit in the autumn.
“That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it. Evolving, growing as a group, learning the lessons that we need to,” added the former England international.
Of O’Mahony’s captaincy, Farrell explained that the back-row is “a good fit for us”.
“There are some people who just walk in a room and make it feel right, especially on game day, and Peter is certainly one of those. He helps other people grow in that department as well.
“He’s somebody that you want to follow. He wears his heart on his sleeve but off the field he cares as well. He’s fantastic around the group.
“He loves playing for Ireland, for his country, and it’s a proud moment for him and for his family, I’m sure of that.
“First things first though and now we have to make sure we galvanise over these next nine days.
“It [Marseille] is a fantastic venue. I’ve been lucky enough to play there and be in that stadium a few times – as far as atmospheric stadiums around the world are concerned that’s right up there. The Six Nations certainly starts off with a bang.”
Last week, Farrell’s appointment as head coach for the Lions’ tour to Australia in 2025 was confirmed, with former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt having been named as Wallabies coach for the next year and a half.
“Obviously it’s a massively proud moment. It’s a privilege and it’s something I will look forward to. Life’s all about challenges isn’t it?
“You just knew that Australia was going to get the next appointment right. That’s what you want, to come up against the best, and there are none better than Joe.”
