Emerging Ireland
Irish rugby team
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Emerging Ireland is an Irish international rugby union team that represents Ireland in selected matches, tours and competitions. Composed of Ireland qualified players only, mostly uncapped or at the beginning of their careers, it forms part of the development pathway to the senior Ireland team. It is not to be confused with the Ireland Wolfhounds, the national 'A' team which occasionally competes and is a level below the national side but with no age restrictions, nor with the Elite U-20 team with strict age limits that competes in the Under-20 Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.
 | |||
| Union | Irish Rugby Football Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Shamrock | ||
| Founded | 2013 | ||
| Location | Ireland | ||
| Director of Rugby | David Humphreys | ||
| Coach | Simon Easterby | ||
| Captain | Alex Kendellen | ||
| Most caps | Ian Keatley (6 caps) Andrew Conway | ||
| Top scorer | Ian Keatley (67 points) | ||
| Most tries | Andrew Conway (6 tries) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Georgia 15–20 E. Ireland  (7 June 2013) | |||
| Largest win | |||
E. Ireland 66–0  Russia(13 June 2014) | |||
| Largest defeat | |||
E. Ireland 8–19 South Africa XV  (11 June 2013) | |||
Emerging Ireland operates primarily as a touring side, allowing for a extended period of training and competition together for players and coaches. As of 2024, Emerging Ireland had undertaken five tours for a total of 15 matches. Their record over those matches was 14 games won, and a single defeat against a South African Presidents XV in 2013.
History
2013 Tbilisi Cup
The team was created to offer Tier 1 level opposition for Tier 2 sides in the IRB Tbilisi Cup, held in Tbilisi, Georgia.[1][2] Allen Clarke, Ian Costello and Joey Miles managed the team, with Rhys Ruddock as captain.[3]
In Emerging Ireland's opening match, they faced hosts Georgia. This match was won by the Emerging side 20–15 in their first ever game.[4] In their second match, South Africa President's XV beat Emerging Ireland 19–8,[5] before Emerging Ireland beat Uruguay 42–33 on 16 June 2013 to secure a second-place finish in the tournament.[6]
The squad for the tournament was named on 19 May 2013.[7] The initial squad featured four internationally capped players; Michael Bent, Seán Cronin, Ian Keatley and Rhys Ruddock the captain. However, Cronin was called up to the senior squad on 26 May 2013, thus lowering the international players from four to three. The remaining twenty three players, had, at the time, not played for Ireland internationally or at test level.
2014 IRB Nations Cup
On 1 April 2014, it was announced that Emerging Ireland would take part in the 2014 edition of the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest, Romania. Dan McFarland, Connacht assistant coach at the time, was appointed as head coach and Ulster backs coach, Neil Doak was chosen to assist him.[8]
In the first game of the cup Emerging Ireland beat Russia by a score of 66–0 at 45 minutes into the game, when it was stopped by the referee, Ian Davies, because of a storm and fears for the players safety. The match included 10 tries,3 of those from Andrew Conway. This was Emerging Ireland's largest ever win in international rugby. Dan McFarland's side beat Uruguay 51–3 in their second game to set up the last game against Romania as a title decider. This game turned out to be the closest of all their games but Emerging Ireland still ran out at 31–10 winners to secure the IRB nations cup with 3 bonus point victories.[9][10]
2015 Tbilisi Cup
Emerging Ireland won the 2015 Tbilisi Cup tournament with three from three victories, taking the Tbilisi Cup for their first ever time.[11][12]
2022 South Africa Tour
After a significant haitus, Emerging Ireland re-emerged, but with a different purpose, providing development opportunities for young senior players in international conditions, Simon Easterby was appointed head coach of the Emerging Ireland squad for their three fixtures against South African Currie Cup sides in Autumn 2022.[13][14] Ireland won their first match of the tour beating the Griquas 54–7 at Toyota Stadium.[15] They won their second match of the tour with a 28–24 victory over the Pumas.[16] Emerging Ireland completed a sweep of their tour of South Africa on 9 October with a 21–14 win over the Cheetahs.[17]
2024 South Africa Tour
Emerging Ireland returned to South Africa in October 2024 for a three match tour against the Pumas, Western Force and the Cheetahs.[18] They started their tour with a 36-24 victory over the Pumas in Bloemfontein.[19] Ireland beat the Western Force 29–24 in its second match of the tour.[20] Emerging Ireland secured their second Toyota Challenge crown with a 24–33 victory over the Cheetahs going three for three on their South Africa tour.[21]
Statistics
Overall
| Against | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | % Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetahs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 38 | +16 | 100.00% |
| Georgia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 27 | +38 | 100.00% |
| Griquas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 7 | +47 | 100.00% |
 Emerging Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | +25 | 100.00% |
| Pumas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 48 | +16 | 100.00% |
| Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | +66 | 100.00% |
| SA Pres. XV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 19 | –11 | 0.00% |
 Uruguay | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 43 | +83 | 100.00% |
 Romania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 10 | +21 | 100.00% |
 Western Force | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 100.00% |
| Total | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 522 | 216 | +306 | 93.33% |
Up to date as of 9 October 2024
| Tournament | Coach(es) | Captain | Games | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | PF | PA | |||
| 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup | Allen Clarke | Rhys Ruddock | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 67 |
| 2014 IRB Nations Cup | Dan McFarland | Dominic Ryan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 13 |
| 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup | Allen Clarke | Rhys Ruddock | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 19 |
| 2022 Toyota Challenge | Simon Easterby | Max Deegan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 45 |
| 2024 Toyota Challenge | Simon Easterby | Alex Kendellen | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 72 |
Honours
Current squad
Emerging Ireland 33-man squad for the Toyota Challenge was announced on 18 September 2024[22]. Head Coach: Simon Easterby
Head coaches and statistics
- Correct as of 9 October 2024
| Coach | Season(s) | GP | W | D | L | Win % | Loss % | Championships / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Clarke |
2013 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | 33.33% | |
 Dan McFarland |
2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0% | 2014 IRB Nations Cup |
| Allen Clarke |
2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0% | 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup |
| Simon Easterby |
2022–2024 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0% | 2022 Toyota Challenge, 2024 Toyota Challenge |
| Total | 2013–present | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 93.33% | 6.67% |