Emerging Ireland heading to Romania

Dan McFarland and Neil Doak will lead a squad to compete in a quadrangular tournament in June

Dan McFarland. James Crombie/Inpho
Dan McFarland. James Crombie/Inpho

Emerging Ireland will travel to Romania in June to take part in the 2014 IRB Nations Cup which will see a development squad play three matches in nine days.

Connacht's Dan McFarland has been appointed as head coach and he will be assisted by Ulster's Neil Doak. McFarland formerly coached Ireland's U20's. Doak, backs' coach at Ulster has formed part of the coaching ticket for the Irish Wolfhounds.

Emerging Ireland's first game of the tournament takes place on Friday, June 13th, against Russia. Five days later Emerging Ireland take on Uruguay on Wednesday June, 18th with the team's final game of the IRB Nations Cup coming against hosts Romania on Saturday June, 22nd.

Romania are the highest rated team in the tournament at 17 in the IRB World Rankings with Russia ranked 19th and Uruguay ranked one further spot back in 20th position. The hosts won the Nations Cup in 2013 beating Russia, the Argentina Jaguars and Emerging Italy.

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Last summer the newly established Emerging Ireland squad competed in the Tbilisi Cup beating host nation Georgia and Uruguay but lost out to the eventual tournament winners the South Africa President's XV. Joey Miles will manage the squad which will be announced in the weeks preceding the tournament.