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Wallabies squad named to play South Africa

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Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has confirmed a 35-man squad for the upcoming eToro Rugby Championship fixtures against South Africa in Adelaide and Sydney.

There are a number of players returning to the group who were unavailable for the side’s most recent Tests against Argentina.

Winger Andrew Kellaway and props Angus Bell and Scott Sio have recovered from injury, while Allan Alaalatoa, Hunter Paisami and David Porecki all return after leaving the Argentina Tour early for personal and injury reasons.

Young gun NSW Waratahs backrower Langi Gleeson has been named in his first ever national squad after strong performances at both Super Rugby level and for Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Queensland Reds fullback Jock Campbell is the only other uncapped player in the squad alongside Gleeson.

71-Test flyhalf Bernard Foley is the other new face added to the group, his first time in a national set up since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

After making their debuts in Argentina, forwards Jed Holloway and Pone Fa’amausili will be looking to add to their Test experience on home soil.

The team will assemble on the Gold Coast on Sunday ahead of their Test against the world champion Springboks in Adelaide on August 27. The Test is part of a double header that will also see the Wallaroos taking on the Black Ferns.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “After a tough two weeks in Argentina we’re extremely pleased to be able to welcome a few men back into the mob.”

“To have their experience on deck will be invaluable in what’s going to be a massive challenge coming up against South Africa two weeks in a row.

“We know that respect is earned daily and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure we put in performances that are worthy of that respect in Adelaide and Sydney.”

Tickets to The eToro Rugby Championship are available for purchase at wallabies.rugby/tickets.

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Squad summary

Total Test caps: 846

Average Test caps: 24

Average age: 26

Uncapped players: 2 (Jock Campbell, Langi Gleeson)

Most capped: James Slipper (119 Tests)

Youngest member: Langi Gleeson, 21

Oldest member: James Slipper, 33

Breakdown: Brumbies 13, Queensland Reds 8, NSW Waratahs 6, Melbourne Rebels 5, Overseas clubs 3

Wallabies squad for South Africa Tests (age, team, Tests played)

Allan Alaalatoa (28, Brumbies, 56 Tests)

Rory Arnold (32, TBC, 30 Tests)

Angus Bell (21, NSW Waratahs, 19 Tests)

Jock Campbell (27, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Pone Fa’amausili (25, Melbourne Rebels, 1 Test)

Folau Fainga’a (27, Brumbies, 29 Tests)

Lalakai Foketi (27, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Bernard Foley (32, Kubota Spears, 71 Tests)

Nick Frost (22, Brumbies, 4 Tests)

Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Jake Gordon (29, NSW Waratahs, 13 Tests)

Reece Hodge (27, Melbourne Rebels, 57 Tests)

Jed Holloway (29, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Len Ikitau (23, Brumbies, 17 Tests)

Andrew Kellaway (26, Melbourne Rebels, 14 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 47 Tests)

Rob Leota (25, Melbourne Rebels, 10 Tests)

Noah Lolesio (22, Brumbies, 12 Tests)

Lachlan Lonergan (22, Brumbies, 6 Tests)

Tate McDermott (23, Queensland Reds, 17 Tests)

Fraser McReight (23, Queensland Reds, 4 Tests)

Hunter Paisami (24, Queensland Reds, 18 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (22, Queensland Reds, 20 Tests)

Matt Philip (28, Melbourne Rebels, 24 Tests)

David Porecki (29, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Pete Samu (30, Brumbies, 24 Tests)

Scott Sio (30, Brumbies, 71 Tests)

James Slipper (33, Brumbies, 119 Tests)

Darcy Swain (25, Brumbies, 13 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (26, Queensland Reds, 42 Tests)

Rob Valetini (23, Brumbies, 23 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (26, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)

Nic White (32, Brumbies, 52 Tests)

Harry Wilson (22, Queensland Reds, 11 Tests)

Tom Wright (25, Brumbies, 14 Tests)

2022 eToro Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Fixtures

Wallabies 41 defeated Argentina 26, Sunday 7 August at Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza

Wallabies 17 defeated by Argentina 48, Sunday 13 August at Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan

Wallabies v South Africa, Saturday 27 August, 3:00pm ACST at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Wallabies v South Africa, Saturday 3 September, 7:30pm AEST at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wallabies v New Zealand, Thursday 15 September, 7:45pm AEST at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Wallabies v New Zealand, Saturday 24 September, 5:05pm AEST at Eden Park, Auckland

Content & Images from – Australia Rugby


6 Nations

IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship

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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.

The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.

Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:

“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.

“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.

“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.

“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”

The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.

IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:

Saturday, 16th November:

Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)

Friday, 22nd November:

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)

Friday, 29th November:

Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)

Friday, 20th December:

Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)

Saturday, 21st December:

Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)

Weekend of 28/29 December:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 9/10 May:

Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 16/17 May:

Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Team For Final Tour Clash Against The Cheetahs Named

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The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.

Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.

Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart

In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.

Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.

Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.

The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”

Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.

Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)

15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)

Replacements:

16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Squad Update As Three Players Return To Provincial Action

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Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.

The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.

The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+

Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+

Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.



Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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