Emerging Ireland
 |
|
| Union | Irish Rugby Football Union |
|---|---|
| Emblem(s) | Shamrock |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Coach(es) | Allen Clarke |
| Captain(s) | Rhys Ruddock |
| First international | |
 Georgia 15–20 E. Ireland  (7 June 2013) |
|
| Largest win | |
E. Ireland 66–0  Russia(13 June 2014) |
|
| Largest defeat | |
E. Ireland 8–19 South Africa  (11 June 2013) |
|
Emerging Ireland is an Irish rugby union team that represents Ireland in the IRB Nations Cup. The team will act as Ireland's third national men's side, behind the senior Ireland team and Ireland Wolfhounds.
The team was created to offer Tier 1 level opposition for Tier 2 sides in the IRB Tbilisi Cup, held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Allen Clarke, Ian Costello and Joey Miles managed the team, with Rhys Ruddock as captain.
In Emerging Ireland's opening match, they faced hosts Georgia. This match was won by the Emerging side 20-15 in their first ever game. In their second match, South Africa President's XV beat Emerging Ireland 19-8, before Emerging Ireland beat Uruguay 42-33 on 16 June 2013 to secure a second-place finish in the tournament.
The squad for the tournament was named on 19 May 2013. The initial squad featured four internationally capped players; Michael Bent, Sean Cronin, Ian Keatley and Rhys Ruddock the captain. However, Cronin was called up to the senior squad on 26 May 2013, thus lowering the international players from four to three. The remaining twenty three player, had, at the time, not played for Ireland internationally or at test level.
On 1 April 2014, it was announced that Emerging Ireland would take part in the 2014 edition of the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest, Romania. Dan McFarland, Connacht assistant coach, has been appointed as head coach and Ulster backs coach, Neil Doak, will assist him.
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