Retained by new head coach Andy Farrell in his squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship, Earls featured off the bench in Ireland's 24–14 win against defending-champions Wales and their 24–12 defeat against England, before the tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the usual format of end-of-year international tests not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ireland instead participated in the Autumn Nations Cup. Earls was a replacement in Ireland's 32–9 opening win against Wales on 13 November, and started the in the 18–7 defeat against England on 21 November, the 23–10 win against Georgia on 29 November, and the 31–16 win against Scotland on 5 December, which secured a third-place finish for Ireland in the tournament.