The impending Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa will have three new faces in the line-up. Chay Mullins from the Ireland Sevens, Munster prop Mark Donnelly and Leinster back Charlie Tector are set to replace Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle and Tommy O’Brien who are currently unavailable. Mullins is recognised as the second member from the Ireland Sevens squad who participated in the Paris Olympics to join the tour, following Zac Ward of Ulster and Ballynahinch, son of previous Ireland flanker Andy Ward.
The gathering of the squad will take place at IRFU’s High Performance Centre on Wednesday, with the departure for South Africa slated for Saturday. The squad will be shepherded by Simon Easterby during the tour, featuring matches against teams like the Pumas, Western Force and the Cheetahs.
Emerging Ireland Squad comprises:
Forwards: Jack Aungier affiliated to Clontarf/Connacht, James Culhane from UCD/Leinster, Mark Donnelly teamed up with Garryowen/Munster, Jordan Duggan Naas/Connacht, Sean Edogbo from UCC/Munster, Ronan Foxe Garryowen/Munster, Cormac Izuchukwu tied with Ballynahinch/Ulster, Sean Jansen Connacht, Alex Kendellen Captain from UCC/Munster, Gus McCarthy of UCD/Leinster, Darragh Murray Buccaneers/Connacht, Evan O’Connell from UL Bohemian/Munster, Conor O’Tighearnaigh UCD/Leinster, Danny Sheahan aligned to Cork Constitution/Munster, Harry Sheridan affiliated with Dublin University/Ulster, Stephen Smyth from Old Wesley/Leinster, Alex Soroka Clontarf/Leinster, and Scott Wilson who is aligned with Queen’s University/Ulster.
The following backs have been enlisted for the future clashes: Hugh Cooney from Clontarf and Leinster, Ethan Coughlan from Shannon and Munster, Matthew Devine originating from Corinthians and Connacht, Cormac Foley belonging to Lansdowne and Leinster, Hugh Gavin hails from Galwegians and Connacht, Chay Mullins from Connacht, Ireland Sevens. Other team members include Jack Murphy of Clontarf FC and Ulster, Sean O’Brien from Clontarf and Munster, Ben O’Connor from UCC and Munster, Andrew Osborne of Naas and Leinster, and Jude Postlethwaite from the City of Armagh and Ulster. Sam Prendergast from Lansdowne and Leinster, Rob Russell from Dublin University and Leinster, Charlie Tector from Lansdowne and Leinster, and Zac Ward from Ballynahinch, Ulster, and Ireland Sevens are also in the team.
Regarding the upcoming Emerging Ireland Tour Fixtures, the team will go head-to-head with Pumas on Wednesday, 2nd October at 4pm local time or 3pm in Ireland. The next fixture will be on Sunday, 6th October where Emerging Ireland will lock horns with Western Force at 1pm local time or 12pm in Ireland. Following this, Emerging Ireland will battle against Cheetahs on Wednesday, 9th October at 7pm local time and 6pm Irish time.