Emerging Ireland to travel to Romania for IRB Nations Cup 2014
Emerging Ireland will travel to Romania in June to take part in the IRB Nations Cup 2014 which will see a development squad play three matches in nine days.
Connacht’s Dan McFarland has been appointed as Head Coach for the Emerging Ireland squad and he will be assisted by Ulster’s Neil Doak. Dan is Assistant Coach at Connacht and formerly coached Ireland’s U20’s. Neil is Backs Coach at Ulster Rugby and in recent seasons has formed part of the coaching ticket for the Irish Wolfhounds.
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 Saturday 22nd June.
Romania are the highest ranked team in the tournament at 17 in the IRB World Rankings with Russia ranked 19th and Uruguay ranked one further spot back in 20th position. The hosts won the Nations Cup in 2013 beating Russia, the Argentina Jaguars and Emerging Italy.
Last summer the newly established Emerging Ireland squad competed in the Tbilisi Cup beating host nation Georgia and Uruguay but lost out to the eventual tournament winners the South Africa President’s XV.
Joey Miles will manage the squad which will be announced in the weeks preceding the tournament.
IRB Nations Cup 2014
Venue: Romania
Match 1:
Friday 13th June 2014
Emerging Ireland v Russia
Match 2:
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Emerging Ireland v Uruguay
Match 3:
Sunday 22nd June 2014
Romania v Emerging Ireland
