Bumper Season For Exiles

It has been quite a year for Rhys Ruddock. He made his full Leinster debut this season, he captained the Ireland U-20s to a Six Nations Championship title, he got called up to the Ireland squad to play against New Zealand Maori and then he won his first Test cap against Australia last Saturday.

It represents quite a haul for a young man who came through the Exiles system but his is just one name in a bumper year for the Exiles that has seen them gain two full internationals – Ruddock and Dan Tuohy – and representatives at every level from U-18 up.

The Ireland U-18 Clubs side included six players from the Exiles in their ranks this season while a further three represented Ireland at U-19 level.

Flanker Ruddock captained the Ireland U-20s to Championship glory with wins over Italy, Wales, Scotland and England.

With the Ireland Wolfhounds, three Exiles alumni, now Ulster players, featured – Tuohy, Ed O’Donoghue and Andi Kyriacou. O’Donoghue also lined out in the Ireland XV against the Barbarians and the New Zealand Maori

Second row Tuohy went on to win his first Test cap against New Zealand, marking his debut with a well-taken try.

EXILES ROLL OF HONOUR – 2009/2010:

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS:

– Kieran Ball (Saracens)
– Conor Clancy (London Irish)
– Grant Connon (Newcastle Falcons)
– Tom Margetson (Wellington College)
– Kieran Marmion (Kirkham GS)
– Jack Walsh (London Wasps)
 
IRELAND UNDER-19s:

– Louis Padian (Worcester)
– Nat McDonald (Worcester)
– Corey Hircock (Bedford)
 
IRELAND UNDER-20s:

– Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
 
IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS/IRELAND XV:

– Andi Kyriacou (Malone/Ulster)
– Ed O’Donoghue (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
– Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
 
IRELAND SENIOR TEAM:

– Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
– Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster)

For more on the Exiles – click here.