The Emerging Ireland squad’s three-match tour to South Africa will be led by Munster’s Alex Kendellen. Simon Easterby, the head coach, has declared a team of 33 players for the journey. This group includes two significant players; Sam Prendergast, Leinster outhalf, and Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu, secondrow/flanker, both of whom had participated in the senior tour over the summer.
Neither player received caps during the Test series against the Springboks, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Izuchukwu and James Culhane, Leinster’s number eight, were also members of the 2022 Emerging Ireland touring party. Kendellen, who has previous experience as the Under-20s captain for Ireland, will be joined by other former Under-20s captains Gus McCarthy, a Leinster hooker, and Munster’s secondrow Evan O’Connell.
The squad is mainly comprised of younger players who have represented the Irish 20s in recent times. However, a handful of older, more experienced players are also present. This includes the Connacht duo Shayne Bolton, a 24-year-old South African-born wing/centre and 25-year-old New Zealand-born backrow Sean Jansen; 26-year-old Leinster members Tommy O’Brien and Rob Russell; and Sean O’Brien, a 26-year-old utility back from Munster.
Easterby selected only two outhalves for the squad, Prendergast and last year’s Irish 20s pivot Jack Murphy from Ulster, who is just 20. Traveling with the team will also be three scrumhalves: Cormac Foley, Matthew Devine, and Ethan Coughlan, along with three hookers: McCarthy, Danny Sheahan and Stephen Smyth. Hugh Gavin and Ben O’Connor have been included in the squad, acknowledging their performances in the prior season.
The Emerging Ireland team is set to commence their campaign on Wednesday, October 2nd (3pm Irish time) against the Pumas. They are then going to face the Super Rugby squad Western Force on Sunday, October 6th (12pm Irish time).
Easterby’s team will wrap up their Tour at Toyota Stadium, going head-to-head against the current Currie Cup holders, the Cheetahs, on the 9th of October (18:00 Irish time).
Introducing the Emerging Ireland team: The backs, numbering 15, include Shayne Bolton from Connacht, Hugh Cooney from Clontarf FC/Leinster, and Ethan Coughlan from Shannon/Munster. Matthew Devine represents Corinthians/Connacht, Cormac Foley is from Lansdowne/Leinster, while Hugh Gavin is with Galwegians/Connacht. Other members are Jack Murphy from Clontarf/Ulster, Tommy O’Brien from UCD/Leinster, Sean O’Brien from Clontarf/Munster, Ben O’Connor from UCC/Munster, Andrew Osborne from Naas/Leinster, Jude Postlethwaite from Banbridge/Ulster, Sam Prendergast from Lansdowne/Leinster, Rob Russell from Dublin University/Leinster and Zac Ward from Ballynahinch/Ulster/Ireland Sevens.
The team also boasts of 18 forwards including Jack Aungier from Lansdowne/Connacht, Jack Boyle from UCD/Leinster, James Culhane from UCD/Leinster, Jordan Duggan from Naas/Connacht, Sean Edogbo representing UCC/Munster, Ronan Foxe from Garryowen/Munster, Cormac Izuchukwu from Ballynahinch/Ulster, and Sean Jansen of Connacht. Others are Alex Kendellen from UCC/Munster (who is also the captain), Gus McCarthy from UCD/Leinster, Darragh Murray from Buccaneers/Connacht, Evan O’Connell from UL Bohemian/Munster, Conor O’Tighearnaigh from UCD/Leinster, Danny Sheahan from Cork Constitution/Munster, Harry Sheridan from Dublin University/Ulster, Stephen Smyth from Old Wesley/Leinster, Alex Soroka from Clontarf/Leinster, and Scott Wilson from QUB/Ulster.