Ulster
Ulster Rugby squad named for champion Springboks
In the two-match test series against the world champion Springboks, Cormac Izuchukwu may make his debut for Ireland.
Six Ulstermen will travel to South Africa as Ireland gets ready to play a two-match test series against the reigning world champion Springboks.
Cormac Izuchukwu, who has played well for the province in the final few games of the season, may make his debut for Andy Farrell’s team.
Herring Rob and O’Toole Tom Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney, and Stuart McCloskey board the plane as well.
Ireland enters this series having won the previous three encounters between the two countries, including a 13-8 victory in the pool stages of the French World Cup last year.
Iain Henderson, the main absentee from the northern province, was ruled out following toe surgery last month.
Other notable absences include Jack Conan, who is ruled out due to personal reasons, and Jamison Gibsin-Park, who was arguably Ireland’s best Six Nations player. Gibsin-Park is out due to a hamstring injury.
The Leinster forward ruled himself out of the trip since Conan’s wife, Ali, is about to give birth.
Caolin Blade, a Connacht scrum-half with two caps for his country, gains an advantage from Gibson-Park’s absence.
Hugo Keenan, the full-back, missed the visit because he was playing for his nation in the rugby sevens competition in Paris. Jimmy O’Brien returns from injury just in time, having missed the Guinness Six Nations championship game earlier this year.
Tom Stewart of Ulster, who placed among the top 10 try scorers in the United Rugby Championship this year, was also left out of the 35-man roster for the series against South Africa.
Despite predictions that the Six Nations would be Peter O’Mahony’s final game wearing an Ireland shirt, he is still the captain of Andy Farrell’s team.
“I am honoured to be asked to lead Ireland in South Africa, a nation that offers one of the hardest challenges in world rugby,” O’Mahony continued.
As the defending world champions, South Africa will put us to the test, and we are aware that we must perform well in order to achieve the desired outcomes.
“We are aware of the challenge that lies ahead. There is a great deal of respect and familiarity between both countries at the international and club levels in recent years.”
Three players, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, and Cormac Izuchukwu of Ulster, might make their test debuts for the boys in green in South Africa.
“There is no greater test for us than travelling to South Africa to play a Test Series against the reigning world champions,” head coach Andy Farrell stated.
“It is yet another excellent chance for us to advance and improve following the Guinness Six Nations.”
On Saturday, July 6, Farrell’s team will play the Springboks in the first Test match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
A week later on Saturday, July 13, the second test will take place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.
Ireland squad for the tour of South Africa:
Backs: B Aki (Connacht), C Blade (Connacht), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), C Nash (Munster), J O’Brien (Leinster), J Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster).
Forwards: R Baird (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), C Doris (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), R Herring (Ulster), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), O Jager (Munster), R Kelleher (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster, capt), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), J van der Flier (Leinster).
There will be no Ulster representation in the Ireland team once more after Andy Farrell confirmed his squad for the first match in their two-game series against World champions Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday.
Andy Farrell’s men take on the World champions in the first of a two-game series on Saturday
No players from the province have been included in the Irish panel for the third time in the previous six games. Players from Ulster will not play in the opening test against the Springboks, as they did not play in the Six Nations matches against France and Scotland.
Many had assumed that Cormac Izuchukwu would have been a strong candidate following Richie Murphy’s team’s strong season finale. However, Farrell has chosen to mostly remain with the team that won the Six Nations.
Jamie Osborne of Leinster will start at full-back for Leinster against the Boks, since Farrell has given Hugo Keenan the opportunity to play for the Sevens team in the Olympics. It’s a significant vote of confidence in Osborne, who has spent the majority of his club rugby career playing at centre. With so many well-known players in the backline, his inclusion is the main talking point.
Calvin Nash and James Lowe will play on the flanks, while Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki will make up a potent centre tandem. Farrell’s team is half-backed by Jack Crowley and Craig Casey of Munster.
The forward group from the team that defeated Scotland in March to win the Six Nations championship is the same. From flanker, Peter O’Mahony leads the team. Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris also participate from the back row. In the engine room, behind Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, are Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne.
Nine players, including Will Addison, will depart Ulster at the end of the current campaign.
The 31-year-old joined the team in 2018 after leaving the Sale Sharks, and during his tenure, he has made 41 appearances for the team despite missing many extended periods due to injury.
Fifteen of those forty-one games have occurred this season, with three of those games being starts.
He was eligible for Ireland thanks to his mother, and from 2018 to 2021, he received five caps for the team.
Luke Marshall, the longest-serving member of the team, and fellow centre Angus Curtis had already announced their retirements. Fly-half Billy Burns and Springbok World Cup champion Steven Kitshoff had also announced their exits.
Along with Kitshoff, Dave Ewers, a former back row player for the Exeter Chiefs, will only play one season in Belfast. Other departing players include Greg Jones, James French, and Shea O’Brien.
Head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham said, “I would like to say thank you to the players that will be leaving the club at the end of the season on behalf of everyone at Ulster Rugby.”
“It is important to acknowledge the positive impact that each individual has made on the club, both on and off the pitch and in terms of their professionalism day in and day out, despite the fact that they are all at different stages of their careers, with some having spent many years at the club and others at the start of their professional rugby careers.”
This Saturday, Ulster plays their last home game of the United Rugby Championship [URC] season against Leinster at Kingspan Stadium.
George Saunderson, a 22-year-old Academy player, has announced his immediate retirement from Ulster Rugby, citing “medical advice” in the wake of “concussions sustained this season.” Saunderson, a prop at the Ulster Rugby Academy, was chosen for Ireland’s U20 Six Nations team in 2021, and his talent was immediately apparent as he made three appearances and scored a try against Italy.
Saunderson’s early retirement will undoubtedly continue to fuel the current discussion in Rugby Union over concussion regulations and player safety. Saunderson’s forced retirement at the age of 22 due to “medical advice” raises concerns for the sport.
Ulster Rugby confirmed this morning that Academy player George Saunderson would be retiring immediately “on medical advice” in a news release. The press release stated, “Following concussions sustained this season, the talented forward has been advised that he should retire from rugby.”
Although it was “a tough decision to make,” the 22-year-old claimed that it was in his best interests in the long run. “Representing Ireland at the U20 Six Nations was a proud moment for me and I’ll cherish those memories,” Saunderson said in his statement. He also thanked his parents and relatives, as well as his teammates, coaches, and staff for helping him grow over the years.
“I’ll be supporting the guys and wishing Ulster everyone the best of luck in the future.”
Manager of the Ulster Rugby Academy Gavin Hogg expressed his regret that Saunderson’s playing days were coming to an end and mentioned how much the team will miss him.
“During George’s three years in the Academy, we have seen him develop into a self-motivated individual with excellent leadership abilities. We are confident that these qualities will carry over into his future activities and help him succeed in whatever he decides to pursue.”
Though unhappy that the Ulster prop will not be able to capitalise on his obvious ability, Hogg feels that Saunderson “had the potential to make in impact in the Senior Men’s side in the future”.
The news is devastating for Ulster Rugby, as the Ulstermen have had a mixed season and will now be without a promising young player. The club’s future is clearly in the hands of new head coach Richie Murphy, who will prioritise young development. This makes Saunderson’s resignation all the worse.
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