Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu are the two most notable inclusions in Simon Easterby's Emerging Ireland squad for their tour of South Africa later this month.
The pair are among a 33-man touring squad that will travel to Bloemfontein for games against the Pumas, Western Force and Cheetahs.
Out-half Prendergast and flanker Izuchukwu both travelled to South Africa with the Ireland senior squad earlier this summer, although neither earned a Test debut in the drawn series.
It’s Izuchukwu’s second time going on this Emerging Ireland tour to Bloemfontein, having also done so in 2022, with Leinster back row James Culhane the only other member of this squad to return again this month.
Munster’s Alex Kendellen has been appointed as captain, with the former Ireland Under-20 skipper having missed out on the 2022 tour due to injury.
Kendellen (below) is one of eight Munster men involved, and is joined by prop Ronan Foxe, hooker Danny Sheahan, second row Evan O’Connell, back row Sean Edogbo, scrum-half Ethan Coughlan, centre Sean O’Brien and full-back Ben O’Connor from his province.
Leinster lead the squad tally with 12 players. As well as Prendergast and Culhane, hookers Stephen Smyth and Gus McCarthy, prop Jack Boyle, lock Conor O’Tighearnaigh and versatile loose forward Alex Soroka are involved, with Soroka also having missed the 2022 tour due to injury.
From the backline, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be without scrum-half Cormac Foley, centre Hugh Cooney, wing Rob Russell, as well as versatile backs Andrew Osborne and Tommy O’Brien.
Connacht are to lose seven players to the tour, including South Africa-born wing Shayne Bolton and Kiwi number 8 Sean Jansen, while tighthead Jack Aunguer, loosehead Jordan Duggan, lock Darragh Murray, scrum-half Matthew Devine, and centre Hugh Gavin will travel.
Ulster have six representatives on the tour, including Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward who has recently joined the province on a trial basis. As well as Izuchukwu (below), out-half Jack Murphy, centre Jude Postlethwaite, prop Scott Wilson and versatile forward Harry Sheridan are named in the group.
The squad will gather in Dublin for a training camp next week ahead of departing for South Africa on Saturday, 28 September.
Emerging Ireland will face the Pumas in their campaign opener on Wednesday, 2 October (3pm Irish time), before going head-to-head with Super Rugby outfit Western Force on Sunday, 6 October (12pm Irish time).
Easterby’s side will then conclude the Tour against defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs on Wednesday, 9 October (6pm Irish time), with all matches being played at Toyota Stadium.
The tour is designed to expose some of the younger Irish prospects to the senior international camp, as a bridge to future Test honours.
Several of the Emerging Ireland squad from 2022 have gone on to be senior internationals under Andy Farrell including Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash, Joe McCarthy, Cian Prendergast and Jamie Osborne.
Forwards: Jack Aungier (Lansdowne FC/Connacht), Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster), 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: Shayne Bolton (Connacht), 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), Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster) Tommy O'Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster), Ben O'Connor (UCC RFC/Munster), Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens).
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