Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu headline Emerging Ireland squad

Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu are the two most notable inclusions in Simon Easterby's Emerging Ireland squad for their tour of South Africa later this month.

The pair are among a 33-man touring squad that will travel to Bloemfontein for games against the Pumas, Western Force and Cheetahs.

Out-half Prendergast and flanker Izuchukwu both travelled to South Africa with the Ireland senior squad earlier this summer, although neither earned a Test debut in the drawn series.

It’s Izuchukwu’s second time going on this Emerging Ireland tour to Bloemfontein, having also done so in 2022, with Leinster back row James Culhane the only other member of this squad to return again this month.

Munster’s Alex Kendellen has been appointed as captain, with the former Ireland U20 skipper having missed out on the 2022 tour due to injury.

Kendellen (beow) is one of eight Munster men involved, and is joined by prop Ronan Foxe, hooker Danny Sheahan, second row Evan O’Connell, back row Sean Edogbo, scrum-half Ethan Coughlan, centre Sean O’Brien and full-back Ben O’Connor from his province.

Leinster lead the squad tally with 12 players. As well as Prendergast and Culhane, hookers Stephen Smyth and Gus McCarthy, prop Jack Boyle, lock Conor O’Tighearnaigh and versatile loose forward Alex Soroka are involved, with Soroka also having missed the 2022 tour due to injury.

From the backline, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be without scrum-half Cormac Foley, centre Hugh Cooney, wing Rob Russell, as well as versatile backs Andrew Osborne and Tommy O’Brien.

Connacht are to lose seven players to the tour, including South Africa-born wing Shayne Bolton and Kiwi number 8 Sean Jansen, while tighthead Jack Aunguer, loosehead Jordan Duggan, lock Darragh Murray,