Emerging Ireland Team For Nations Cup Opener

Of the ten Munster players involved in the current Emerging Ireland Tour, nine are named in the matchday squad for Friday’s tour opener against Russia.

In the pack Dave Foley starts in the second row, with Tommy O’Donnell lining out at 7 alongside new Munster signing Robin Copeland who packs down at number 8.

Ian Keatley takes on the out-half responsibilities, and is partnered in the backline by Munster colleagues Andrew Conway and Johne Murphy on the wing and at full back respectively.

Munster sees the best provincial representation on the bench with John Ryan, Billy Holland, Sean Dougall and JJ Hanrahan all hoping to win game time as they provide cover against the Russians.

Emerging Ireland play Russia in the IRB Nations Cup on Friday, June 13th at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest. KO 14:00 Irish time with coverage streamed live at www.irb.com

Emerging Ireland v Russia

15- Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)*
14- Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
13- Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
12- Stuart McCloskey (Dungannon/Ulster)*
11- Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster)*
10 – Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9- Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)

1- Callum Black (Malone/Ulster)*
2- Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
3- Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
4- Mick Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht)*
5- David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
6- Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)*C
7- Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
8- Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*

Replacements:
16-James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)*
17-John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
18- Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
19- Sean Dougall (Dolphin/ Munster)*
20- Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)*
21-JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
22- Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)*

N.B. *denotes uncapped player

IRB Nations Cup 2014

Emerging Ireland v Russia
Friday 13th June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 16:00

Emerging Ireland v Uruguay
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 16:00

Romania v Emerging Ireland
Sunday 22nd June 2014
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf 17:00