Centre Ringrose was included on a 15-man longlist for the prestigious award after helping Leinster Rugby to four straight victories in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage, setting up a Round of 16 encounter with Ulster Rugby in Dublin.

Ireland rotated as they triumphed over Italy in the previous round but have recalled several players for Sunday’s game.

Leinster talisman Johnny Sexton is back at fly-half after sitting out the game in Rome, with his clubmate Tadhg Furlong in at prop.

Munster Rugby, who are away at Cell C Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, see two representatives restored to the XV, with Conor Murray at scrum-half and Peter O’Mahony at flanker.

The back row is completed by two of Leinster’s other EPCR Player of the Year nominees as Caelan Doris shifts to No.8 and Josh van der Flier continues at openside flanker.

Five more Leinster players retain their starting berths, in prop Andrew Porter, hooker Dan Sheehan, lock James Ryan and full-back Hugo Keenan.

Iain Henderson is at lock once again – he is set to captain Ulster in their Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 trip to Leinster.

The bench is entirely comprised of Leinster players, aside from Ulster prop Tom O’Toole, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne and Robbie Henshaw are all named among the replacements.

EPCR Player of the Year nominee Garry Ringrose returns to Ireland’s starting team as they play Scotland at BT Murrayfield on Sunday, gunning for a fourth successive win in the 2023 Six Nations.