Ireland ‘A’ Blends Youth And Experience – Five To Watch
Munster's Jack Crowley takes a kick for Emerging Ireland against the Windhoek Draught Griquas in Bloemfontein ©INPHO/Steve Haag
Ireland ‘A’ will face the haka at the RDS on Friday, with a squad that mixes youth and experience, multi-capped players and those aiming for their first senior cap.
Here are five players to watch out for on Friday night.
David Kilcoyne
‘Killer’ has played over 200 times for Munster and amassed 48 Ireland caps having made his international debut ten years ago against South Africa in the November Series.
His last cap came in the Triple Crown win against Scotland in last season’s Guinness Six Nations. He was ruled out of the tour to New Zealand to undergo surgery, but he is back in the running and will be aiming to push his way back into the senior squad this month, with one eye on the Guinness Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.
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Martin Moore
Martin Moore’s last Ireland cap came in the 2015 Six Nations Championship before injury ruled him out of the Rugby World Cup later that year.
Moore made 58 appearances for Leinster before a move to Wasps in 2016. He returned to Ireland in 2018 but this time in an Ulster jersey. He will be aiming to build on his Ulster form, including last weekend’s player-of-the-match performance against Munster, to push for further honours in green.
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Max Deegan
Max Deegan formed part of the Emerging Ireland leadership group and captained the side in the opening and closing games of the Toyota Challenge in South Africa. A former Ireland Under-20 international, he was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2016 World Rugby U-20 Championship.
He was capped against Wales during the 2020 Guinness Six Nations Championship and has made 87 appearances for Leinster.
Caolin Blade
A native of Monivea in County Galway, Blade made his Connacht debut in 2014 and has won 150 caps for the province since then.
He has represented Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 levels and was named in the Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship. He made his Ireland debut against the USA in the 2021 Vodafone Summer Series.
Jack Crowley
Jack Crowley was one of the stars of the Emerging Ireland tour and has turned in some eye-catching performances for Munster.
Crowley started his rugby in Bandon and helped Bandon Grammar School to two Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-finals in 2017 and 2019.
He won three caps for the Ireland Under-20s during the 2020 U-20 Six Nations campaign, and has scored 58 points for Munster in his 19 appearances to date.