EMERGING IRELAND Squad (Tblisi Cup, Georgia):

Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *
Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Richard Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) *
Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster) *


Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster) *
John Cooney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Cathal Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster) *
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster) *
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) *
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster) (capt)
Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) *


Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution/Munster) *


Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht) *


Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers) *

Former Coach wrote: Andrew' going for surgery on his Achilles so there is an excuse!

Seriously?

That's the injury that kept him out for the whole 11/12 season. Hope it's not serious

Porterbelly wrote:

its_phil wrote: Ian Nagle over Andrew Browne is a disgrace. Hopefully Joe Schmidt will realise what an incredible talent he is.

Nagle picked on the basis of being a 5th choice lock and one good game against Australia

David Foley as well. Farcical stuff

Herring ahead of Harris Wright and Loughney left behind and the likes of John Ryan and Martin Moore picked. I get the fact that these younger lads need gametime but let them play provincial rugby first. TH isn't a position to be messing around with, Loughney has done well at Heineken Cup level

Hadn't even noticed JHW. But it must be injury.

You honestly wonder did Kiss watch any of our games this year.

Andrew' going for surgery on his Achilles so there is an excuse!

its_phil wrote: Ian Nagle over Andrew Browne is a disgrace. Hopefully Joe Schmidt will realise what an incredible talent he is.

Nagle picked on the basis of being a 5th choice lock and one good game against Australia

David Foley as well. Farcical stuff

Herring ahead of Harris Wright and Loughney left behind and the likes of John Ryan and Martin Moore picked. I get the fact that these younger lads need gametime but let them play provincial rugby first. TH isn't a position to be messing around with, Loughney has done well at Heineken Cup level

Ian Nagle over Andrew Browne is a disgrace. Hopefully Joe Schmidt will realise what an incredible talent he is.

Nagle picked on the basis of being a 5th choice lock and one good game against Australia

i expected more

The Emerging Ireland team, who will make their first trip to Georgia to compete in the new IRB Tbilisi Cup, has also been named.

Connacht players Eoin Griffin, Eoin McKeon and Tiernan O’Halloran have been included. The 26 man squad, captained by Leinster back row Rhys Ruddock, will play Uruguay, Georgia and South Africa President’s XV in June.

Merab Kvirikashvili is a fly half but plays full back for national team.

Some young players in the backs, Sharikadze, Mchedlidze and Khutsishvili are born 1993, Pruidze 1994.

Also, props Chilachava and Zhvania, lock Mikautadze, back row Bitsadze are born 1991; lock Lomidze born 1992

Only one out-half? I'm assuming there going to add another or does one of the other players also play ten?

Georgia squad announced
Props : Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier HR), Davit Kubriashvili (RC Toulon), Levan Chilachava (RC Toulon), Irakli Mirtskhulava (Tarbes PR), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français)
Hookers : Irakli Natriashvili (CA Brive), Shava Mamukashvili (Army Tbilissi)
Locks : Giorgi Chkhaidze (Tarbes PR), Konstantin Mikautadze (RC Toulon), Lasha Lomidze (Montpellier HR), Giorgi Nemsadze (Tarbes PR)
Back row : Vito Kolelishvili (ASM Clermont), Dimitri Basilaia (Edinburgh Rugby), Shalva Sutiashvili (RC Massy), Beka Bitsadze (Army Tbilissi)
Scrum halves : Giorgi Begadze (Batumi), Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi)
Fly half : Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Tbilissi)
Centres : Davit Kacharava (Stade Rodez), Merab Sharikadze (Hartpury College), Tedo Zibzibadze (CA Périgueux)
Wings : Tamaz Mchedlidze (Stade Montois), Giorgi Pruidze (Aia Kutaisi), Irakli Machkhaneli (Armazi)
Full backs : Merab Kvirikashvili (AS St Junien), Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotiv Tbilissi)

Gorgodze (flanker, Montpellier), Kakovin (loosehead, Toulouse), Bregvadze (hooker, Toulouse) and Zirakashvili (tighthead, Clermont) are the key absences

In fairness they're 2 fit lads in their late teens early twenties, Im sure a few extra games won't make much difference, there not 2 old men coming to the end of their careers who need plenty of rest.

Porterbelly wrote: Marmion and Henshaw for young lads have played a huge amount of rugby this year, a break would probably do them good

But they're both going with the senior team to the US so fair play to them.

Marmion probably could need a break but I'd say the IRFU might want to get him capped in case Wales might come calling. He deserves to be capped too, he'll be Irelands second choice scrum half by next Autumn.

Henshaw has been off since the Glasgow game so he has got a bit of a break as of late

Marmion and Henshaw for young lads have played a huge amount of rugby this year, a break would probably do them good

But they're both going with the senior team to the US so fair play to them.

I was merely giving my point of view from a provincial perspective. With 9 players on lions duty, 30 in america and prob another 30 in georgia it doesnt auger well for next season.
I didnt mention ulster or leinster because ive no interest in them and was merely responding to the earlier reference to munster. As a munster fan id also prefer if Poc and murray(to a lesser extent) werent selected for the lions for the same reason. I also appreciate the honour and recognition that goes with lions and international selection.

rossie wrote:
I hope none of the munster players go on either trip. Theres nothing to be gained and they could do with a good preseason after a decent rest. Connacht fans should be hoping for similar imo.

Surely if anyone needs the rest it will be the Leinster and Ulster players? How do you plan on picking two squads without Munster or Connacht players?

I hope none of the munster players go on either trip. Theres nothing to be gained and they could do with a good preseason after a decent rest. Connacht fans should be hoping for similar imo.

Gotta disagree. A senior cap is a senior cap regardless of who we're playing and it also gives them a chance for some fact time with Schmidt who wouldn't know any of the other provincial players well outside Leinster. The development team is slightly different but with no Churchill Cup it's as good as and another chance to shine.