First Ireland senior call up for Cormac Izuchukwu
Tullamore's Cormac Izuchukwu has earned his first call up to the Irish men's senior rugby squad.
Izuchukwu was among the 35-player Ireland Men’s squad named on Tuesday by Head Coach Andy Farrell for the upcoming Summer Tour to South Africa.
The squad assembled at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin on Thursday to begin preparations for the two-match Test Series against the Springboks, before departing for Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Izuchukwu is among three uncapped players in the squad, along Leinster duo Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast.
24-year-old Izuchukwu lines out as lock for Ulster. Born in London, he moved to Offaly when he was seven and began playing rugby with Tullamore RFC. He has also featured with Ireland's Men's Sevens team and has lined out with Ulster for the last three seasons.
Farrell’s side will go head-to-head with the Springboks in the opening Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 6 (Kick-off 5pm local time/4pm Irish time), with Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban hosting the second Test a week later on Saturday, 13 July (Kick-off 5pm local time/4pm Irish time).
Looking ahead to the Summer Tour, Farrell said: “Travelling to South Africa to play a Test Series against the defending world champions provides no greater test for us, and it is another valuable opportunity for us to further grow and develop from the Guinness Six Nations.
“The squad will come together in Dublin this week in preparation for the Tour and the group understands the need to hit the ground running, ensuring we are the best version of ourselves for the challenge ahead.”
The two Tests are live on Sky Sports.
The full squad is:
Forwards:
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) 20
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 40
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 50
Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 41
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 76
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 129
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 39
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Oli Jager (Munster) 1
Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) 31
Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster) 10
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain) 105
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 13
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 64
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht) 3
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 62
Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 26
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster) 3
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 62
Backs:
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 56
Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht) 2
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) 14
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) 14
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster) 4
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 72
Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 32
James Lowe (Leinster) 31
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster) 17
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 116
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) 6
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster) 8
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 58
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 37