Churchill Cup Update
The Ireland ‘A’ team’s participation and management team for next June’s Churchill Cup competition, to be played in both Canada and the USA, has been confirmed.
…Ireland ‘A’ coach Michael Bradley keeps a close eye on the action…
The Ireland ‘A’ team’s participation and management team for next June’s Churchill Cup competition, to be played in both Canada and the USA, has been confirmed.
An ‘A’ squad of 28 players will take part in the tournament. The Irish team will be managed by Ulster man Joey Miles, and coached by current Connacht coach Michael Bradley and Ulster coaches Mark McCall and Allen Clarke.
The other participating teams will include Canada, USA, England ‘A’, Scotland ‘A’ and the New Zealand Maoris.
The six teams have been into two pools – a Canada pool and a USA pool (Ireland’s pool) – playing each team in their pool before moving to Alberta, Canada for the Finals day at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Each team will play a total of three matches during the tournament, which will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland by Sky Sports.
Ireland ‘A’ also due to play France (Friday, February 10, away), Scotland (Friday, March 10, home) and England (Friday, March 17, away) in ‘A’ internationals in 2006.
2006 CHURCHILL CUP:
Pool A (San Francisco, USA): USA, Ireland ‘A’, New Zealand Maoris
Pool B (Toronto & Ottawa, Canada): Canada, England ‘A’, Scotland ‘A’
Fixtures (kick-off times tbc):
Saturday, June 3 – England ‘A’ v Scotland ‘A’, Toronto; USA v Ireland ‘A’, San Francisco
Wednesday, June 7 – Canada v Scotland ‘A’, Ottawa; USA v New Zealand Maoris, San Francisco
Saturday, June 10 – Canada v England ‘A’, Toronto; New Zealand Maoris v Ireland, San Franciso
Saturday, June 17 – Finals Day: Play-Offs: (all at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton): 3rd Pool A v 2nd Pool B; 2nd Pool A v 3rd Pool B; Final: 1st Pool A v Pool B