Experienced Irish Rugby Union Team Announces Exciting 35-Man Squad for South African Tour
Dublin, May 24th – The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has unveiled a 35-player squad for their upcoming Test series against the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, South Africa. This highly anticipated tour will see Ireland put their skills to the ultimate test as they face off against the formidable Springboks.
Notably, the squad includes three uncapped players: young Ulster flanker Cormac Izuchukwu, as well as Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast. However, the team will be without the services of scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, who has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, and number eight Jack Conan, who will be absent for personal reasons.
The squad, led by captain Peter O’Mahony, will assemble at the IRFU High-Performance Centre in Dublin on Thursday to begin preparations for the two-match Test series. Head coach Andy Farrell has opted to select Prendergast ahead of his Leinster fly-half counterparts, Ross and Harry Byrne, with Jack Crowley and Ciaran Frawley providing additional options at the pivot position.
The backline boasts a wealth of experience, with Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Stuart McCloskey, Garry Ringrose, and the uncapped Osborne set to provide a formidable presence in the centres. The outside backs consist of Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Jimmy O’Brien, and Jacob Stockdale, with the versatile Frawley able to cover the full-back position if needed.
In the forwards, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Oli Jager, Tom O’Toole, and Andrew Porter will form the front-row options, while Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher, and Dan Sheehan will compete for the hooker roles. The second-row will be anchored by Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, and James Ryan, with a dynamic back-row featuring Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Nick Timoney, Izuchukwu, and captain O’Mahony.
“Travelling to South Africa to play a Test series against the defending world champions provides no greater test for us, and it is another valuable opportunity for us to further grow and develop from the Guinness Six Nations.”
- Head coach Andy Farrell
“As reigning world champions, South Africa will provide the sternest of tests, and we know that we will have to perform at a high level to get the results we want.”
- Irish captain Peter O’Mahony
The two-match Test series against the Springboks promises to be a thrilling spectacle for rugby enthusiasts, as Ireland seeks to showcase their talent and resilience on the global stage.
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