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Olympian Zac Ward set to start for Emerging Ireland
By Josh Raisey
Olympian Zac Ward is set to start on the wing for Emerging Ireland on Wednesday against the Pumas in Bloemfontein.
The 25-year-old, who joined Ulster on a trial basis over the summer, has moved to the 15-man format of the game after starring for Ireland Sevens at the Olympic games, scoring a try in their quarter-final loss to Fiji.
He will be part of an Emerging Ireland team captained by Munster flanker Alex Kendellen as they begin their three-match tour in South Africa.
Ward is one of three Ulster players in the starting XV, alongside lock Harry Sheridan and flanker Cormac Izuchukwu.
Ireland will face the Western Force on Sunday before finishing their tour next Wednesday against the Cheetahs.
"The Pumas will present a real test, coming as it does in the first of three games in seven days," head coach Simon Easterby said. "They’re a physical team who have come off a competitive Currie Cup campaign.
"The three games will ask different questions of the group and that is exactly the kind of environment we want to foster and to see how the players react to a pressurised and competitive environment. We had a good pitch session on Monday afternoon and the players are itching to get out there.
"We will be managing our resources given the close proximity of the games and it’s a younger and less experienced group than the one that competed two years ago. But the talent, energy and enthusiasm of this group has been obvious over the course of the last six days. We’re delighted to be here in Bloemfontein and the squad is ready to get going."
Emerging Ireland
15. Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14. Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
13. Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)
12. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11. Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9. Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
1. Mark Donnelly (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
2. Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3. Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4. Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
5. Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
7. Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)
8. James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
18. Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)
19. Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
20. Sean Jansen (Connacht)
21. Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
22. Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23. Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster)
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Latest Comments
This headline is clickbait nonsense - sure the Aussies can have a laugh at the weekend’s results - when you’ve been as bad as they have for the last 20 years, all you can do is laugh.
If Aussie teams win the next 20 Super Rugby titles and don’t have half of their players from NZ, then we can revisit this.
Go to comments2027 is the target year for England to have transitioned for the RWC. You highlight an systemic blight of the heart of the game in England, consistent failure to give youth its spurs in a meaningful sense. Sure it comes through in dribs and drabs but no wonder France is where they are now, they have brought through the U20s players en masse over the past 4-5 years. Bielle-Biarey, 21, France debut 2023, 18 caps and 17 tries. England did have similar with Arundell (untrusted at RWC 23 despite being top try scorer for England) and aware that Kpoku (like J Willis) is ineligible due to ridiculous, artificial rules.
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