Two Uncapped Players Named For Summer Tour

The Ireland coaches have selected a squad of 32 players to travel to South Africa in June for a three Test series against the Springboks.

The Irish squad will depart for South Africa on Sunday, June 5 and will be based in Cape Town ahead of the first Test at the DHL Newlands Stadium before moving to Johannesburg for the second Test at Emirates Airline Park. The third and final Test will take place in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Ulster back rower Sean Reidy and Connacht lock Quinn Roux are the two uncapped players included in the squad.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt commented: “Touring South Africa will be arduous to say the least so we’ve attempted to prioritise players who are currently as close to full fitness as possible. In what is always a difficult balancing act, we’ve taken a long term view with a number of players who need a rest or will benefit from a full pre-season.”

Players unavailable for selection include Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo.  

All three Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Visit irishrugby.ie and the IRFU’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel for all the latest news, images and videos from Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa.

IRELAND Squad (2016 Summer Tour of South Africa):

Backs (14) –

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Forwards (18) –

Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vice-capt)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

* Denotes uncapped player at Test level

Ireland Summer Tour Fixtures –

South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday, June 11
DHL Newlands Stadium, 5pm local time/4pm Irish time

South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday, June 18
Emirates Airline Park, 5pm local time/4pm Irish time

South Africa v IRELAND
Saturday 25th June, 2016
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 5pm local time/4pm Irish time

Information on tickets to each of the three Tests can be found here.