Alex Kendellen to captain Emerging Ireland side in South Africa

Munster back-rower Alex Kendellen will lead a 33-player Emerging Ireland squad for the three-match tour to South Africa.

The tour, which gets underway later this month, will see a youthful Ireland team play a three game series in South Africa, with Simon Easterby, who was just announced as interim Ireland manager from December, managing the side.

Also included in the squad is Leinster fly-half Sam Prendegast, and Ulster back-five forward Cormac Izuchukwu, who were included in the drawn series to South Africa in July.

Izuchukwu was part of the tour in 2022, as was Leinster back-rower James Culhane.

Shayne Bolton, who had an impressive season on the wing for Connacht, is also included, alongside promising scrum-half Matthew Devine, who had a impressive end to the season.

Zac Ward, who represented Ireland in the Olympic Sevens team, is also included.

Leinster have 12 players included in the squad, with Munster having eight, Connacht contributing seven and there will be six players from Ulster.

Emerging Ireland will play the Pumas on October 2nd, the Western Force on October 6th and the Cheetahs on October 9th.

Jack Aungier (Lansdowne FC/Connacht), Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster), Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Connacht), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster), Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Evan O'Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Alex Soroka