Head Coach Andy Farrell has today named a 35-player Ireland Men’s squad for the upcoming Summer Tour to South Africa. Peter O’Mahony has been named as Captain.
The squad will assemble at the IRFU High-Performance Centre in Dublin on Thursday to begin preparations for the two-match Test Series against the Springboks. They will depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, June 25.
That is a tight turnaround for players likely to be still smarting from their URC exit last weekend or their Champions Cup defeat, in the case of the Leinster players, but that’s elite sport.
Jamison Gibson Park, with a hamstring injury, and Jack Conan, for personal reasons, are among the regulars who will not travel.
Farrell has included three uncapped players in the squad, as Leinster duo Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast are rewarded for their performances at the Provincial level, while Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu earns his first senior call-up.
Ireland will face the Springboks in the opening Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 6 July (Kick-off 5 pm local time/4 pm Irish time).
Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban will host the second Test a week later on Saturday, 13 July (Kick-off 5 pm local time/4 pm Irish time).
“Travelling to South Africa to play a Test Series against the defending world champions provides no greater test for us, and it is another valuable opportunity for us to further grow and develop from the Guinness Six Nations,” said Farrell.
“The squad will come together in Dublin this week in preparation for the Tour and the group understands the need to hit the ground running, ensuring we are the best version of ourselves for the challenge ahead.”
“I am proud to be asked to lead Ireland in South Africa, a country which provides one of the toughest challenges in world rugby,” added O’Mahony
“As reigning world champions, South Africa will provide the sternest of tests, and we know that we will have to perform at a high level to get the results we want. There’s a lot of respect and familiarity between both countries in recent years at international and Club levels since they were invited to join the URC and European Cup competitions, and we know the challenge that awaits.”
The two Tests are live on Sky Sports in the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom.
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