Emerging Ireland forced into three changes for South African tour

Simon Easterby has confirmed three changes to his Emerging Ireland squad of 33 ahead of next Saturday’s departure to South Africa. The tour head coach had last week unveiled his original selection to travel to Bloemfontein for the October matches versus the Pumas, Western Force and the Cheetahs, but injuries have led to a rejig before the group assembles in Dublin on Wednesday.

An IRFU statement read: “There are a number of changes to the Emerging Ireland squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa. Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle and Tommy O’Brien are unavailable and will be replaced by Ireland Sevens back Chay Mullins, Munster prop Mark Donnelly and Leinster’s Charlie Tector respectively.

“The squad will convene on Wednesday morning in the IRFU high performance centre before travelling to South Africa on Saturday.”

Connacht separately confirmed that Bolton “suffered a knee laceration” in their opening round URC loss at Munster, allowing his place to be taken by Mullins, a recent Paris Olympic Games pick.

O’Brien, meanwhile, picked up a hamstring injury in the opening half of Leinster’s win at Edinburgh and his spot in Easterby’s squad has been taken by Tector, who impressed as a starter in that same URC match. Boyle, another Leinster player, has also missed out through injury, paving the way for Munster’s Donnelly to be called up.

Emerging Ireland Squad
Forwards (18):
Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Mark Donnelly (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Connacht)
Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)
Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

Backs (15):
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Chay Mullins (Connacht/Ireland Sevens)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)
Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)