Tbilisi Cup 2014-15

[Xanthippe]

Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Tbilisi Cup
19 May 2015 13:00pm

The Emerging Ireland coaching ticket of Allen Clarke and Girvan Dempsey, working in tandem with the Ireland Coaching Team, have named a squad of 27 players to travel to Georgia to compete in the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup in June.

Ulster forwards coach Allen Clarke and Leinster's Academy Manager Girvan Dempsey take charge of an Emerging Ireland squad who will face off against Emerging Italy, Uruguay and Georgia.

The squad includes five players who have been capped at senior level for Ireland - Stephen Archer (2), James Cronin (2), Rob Herring (1), Noel Reid (1) and Rhys Ruddock (5).

Emerging Ireland Coach, Allen Clarke commented, "This competition gives us the opportunity to develop some of the emerging talent from the four provinces with the support of some experienced players in a very challenging tournament format.

It's a great opportunity to see how these players react and perform faced with the challenge of a short preparation."

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt said, "There are some exciting prospects in this Emerging Ireland squad and the Tbilisi Cup is an ideal challenge for them, especially as both Georgia and Uruguay will be using this tournament to springboard their Rugby World Cup campaigns."

Emerging Ireland will face off against Emerging Italy in their opening game of the tournament on Saturday 13th June.

Four days later they take on Uruguay with their final game coming against the host nation Georgia on Sunday 21st June.

Both Uruguay and Georgia will compete in this year's Rugby World Cup in England.

Emerging Ireland Squad (Tbilisi Cup, Georgia, June 2015)

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)
Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster)
John Cooney (Terenure/Connacht)
James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
Eoin Griffin (London Irish)
JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)
Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)
Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)
Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin McKeon (Corinthians/Connacht)
Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)
Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster)
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)
Frank Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Andy Warwick (Ballymena/Ulster)

Emerging Ireland Team Management
Allen Clarke - Coach
Girvan Dempsey - Assistant Coach
Joey Miles - Manager
Jim McShane - Team Doctor
Karl Denvir - Physio
Sean Mannion - Team Analyst
Aidan O'Connell - S&C Coach
Johnny O'Hagan - Baggage Man
Carmel O'Dwyer - Squad Coordinator

Emerging Ireland Fixtures

Emerging Italy v EMERGING IRELAND
Saturday 13th June 17:00 (14:00 GMT)

Uruguay v EMERGING IRELAND
Wednesday 17th June 17:00 (14:00 GMT)

Georgia v EMERGING IRELAND
Sunday 21st June 19:00 (16:00 GMT)

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34614.php#.VVst1FLcy0a

I put in the full article from the IRFU because it contains one very important piece of news that wasn't contained in goreyguy's post above...

[cormac]

No Tadhg Furlong?

[simonokeeffe]

No Tadhg Furlong?

strikes me as a hint towards RWC, same with Cronins inclusion

[goreyguy]

No Tadhg Furlong?

with Moore out he is probably with the senior squad.

[LeinsterLeader]

Interesting that Ben Marshall is included (and still listed as Leinster)

[offshorerules]

JJ Hanrahan also interesting and also still listed as Munster.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

This actually does seem like very big news for Girve, I would imagine they expect him to rise through the ranks soon enough.

[goreyguy]

players leaving their province but not started with their new team are always still listed with their province. (Marshall/Hanrahan)

Connacht should be after Marshall.

[goreyguy]

This actually does seem like very big news for Girve, I would imagine they expect him to rise through the ranks soon enough.

I think i seen girve in the leinster coaching box with Cullen and MOC at the weekend.

[offshorerules]

I suppose it is strictly speaking correct too unless they have already left at the end of their contract which I presume JJ has not.

[Golf Man]

Dempsey does seem to be one of the guys that is going to be moved up => good that he has started the way he has - stepping back a little bit after retiring from the playing side and now looking to be on an upward curve on the coaching. Its definitely the way to do it. I think Cullen was moved too quickly into his position (as was Brian Walsh arguably). The approach being taken with the likes of Foley, Doak, Clarke, Dempsey, Fogarty, Carolan and Tierney is definitely the way forward - they won't all become great coaches but it complements the likes of ROG, Jackman, Prendergast etc in France

[Keith]

No Tadhg Furlong?

strikes me as a hint towards RWC, same with Cronins inclusion

That must also be why Fanning isn't in there. Has to be nailed on for the WC.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Only just realised that Dan Leavy is in there, hopefully the start of big things.

[simonokeeffe]

No Tadhg Furlong?

strikes me as a hint towards RWC, same with Cronins inclusion

That must also be why Fanning isn't in there. Has to be nailed on for the WC.

Fanning is injured at present

[Tricky Dicky]

I think my personal preference would be for Noel Reid to be trialled there outside Stuart McCloskey. Reid's got great pace and passing ability.

McCloskey more viable as a 13 than Reid, Griffin or Sheridan at London Irish also might come into it

Seems Dempsey is thinking along the same lines as you Simon, cos Reid's at 12, with McCloskey at 13 for the game against Georgia tomorrow. I'd have liked to see what Reid could do at outside centre, but experiencing playing 13 should help to make McCloskey a more rounded player

[simonokeeffe]

I think my personal preference would be for Noel Reid to be trialled there outside Stuart McCloskey. Reid's got great pace and passing ability.

McCloskey more viable as a 13 than Reid, Griffin or Sheridan at London Irish also might come into it

Seems Dempsey is thinking along the same lines as you Simon, cos Reid's at 12, with McCloskey at 13 for the game against Georgia tomorrow. I'd have liked to see what Reid could do at outside centre, but experiencing playing 13 should help to make McCloskey a more rounded player

Reid started as a 10 so hes moving slowly outwards

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Ireland showing poor hands at crucial moments #Girvout

[Experimental]

Well done to the lads!