Flanker Stander handed debut for injury-hit Ireland

Munster's CJ Stander in action with Leicester Tigers' Peter Betham. Leicester Tigers v Munster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool Four - Welford Road - 20/12/15. Action Images / Andrew Boyers Livepic

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will hand flanker CJ Stander his debut in their Six Nations rugby union championship opener against Wales on Sunday and not risk Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney as a raft of injuries threaten the defence of their title.

With Iain Henderson, Tommy Bowe and Peter O'Mahony ruled out of the tournament, Mike Ross and Cian Healy unavailable for the first two games and Paul O'Connell retired, Joe Schmidt will start just seven of the players who secured a second successive championship in Scotland 11 months ago.