Emerging Ireland Squad Announced for IRB Nations Cup 2014 Annett, Black, Allen, Gilroy, P. Marshall are IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A 26 player squad has been announced for the three game IRB Nations Cup in Romania in mid-June.

The Emerging Ireland squad will be coached by Connacht’s Dan McFarland (Head Coach) and Ulster’s Neil Doak (Assistant Coach). Emerging Ireland’s first game of the tournament takes place on Friday 13th June against Russia. Five days later Emerging Ireland take on Uruguay on Wednesday 18th June with the team’s final game of the IRB Nations Cup coming against hosts Romania on Sunday 22nd June.

Emerging Ireland Squad

FORWARDS (15)
Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
Callum Black (Malone/Ulster)*
Paddy Butler (Shannon/Munster)*
Bryan Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*
Sean Dougall (Dolphin/ Munster)*
David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
Mick Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht)*
Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster) (c)
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)*

BACKS (11)
Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster)*
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)*
Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)*
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)*
*denotes uncapped player

Emerging Ireland Head Coach, Dan McFarland, commented, “I am looking forward to working with Neil and this exciting group of players in what will be a highly competitive tournament. It is a great opportunity for players to showcase their abilities and represent their country.”

Joe Schmidt, Ireland Head Coach, added, “There is a good mix of experienced and younger players in this squad. They will face three tough fixtures as Romania have already qualified for RWC14 and both Uruguay and Russia are in the final stages of the Repechage for World Cup qualification.”

Players from last year’s Emerging Ireland squad who have subsequently been capped for Ireland include Dave Kearney, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore and Jordi Murphy and a total of 6 from last year’s Emerging Ireland squad¹ will travel with the Senior team to Argentina.

¹ Players selected for Argentina Tour from last year’s Emerging Ireland squad include Robbie Diack, Rob Herring, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy and Rhys Ruddock

IRB Nations Cup 2014
Venue: Romania

Match 1:
Emerging Ireland v Russia
Friday 13th June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 19:00

Match 2:
Emerging Ireland v Uruguay
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 19:00

Match 3:
Romania v Emerging Ireland
Sunday 22nd June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 17:00