Ulster trio Tom O’Toole, Zac Ward and Jude Postlethwaite have been named in the Ireland ‘A’ squad to take on England ‘A’ on Sunday afternoon (1pm).
The province’s Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy is also represented on Head Coach Mike Prendergast’s coaching ticket for the clash at Ashton Gate in Bristol, as is Mark Sexton – the brother of legendary former Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton – who will link up with Ulster in the summer of 2025 as their new Backs Coach.
Full Ireland international prop O’Toole (26) made his competitive return from the start after a six-match suspension in Ulster’s 34-19 United Rugby Championship loss to Italian side Benetton at Stadio Monigo, while 22-year-old centre Postlethwaite – who has impressed with Emerging Ireland – was introduced as a replacement for Mike Lowry during the loss in Treviso.
Ward (26), the son of Ulster legend Andy Ward, was not in Richie Murphy’s matchday squad on Saturday but the wing has kicked on in 2024/25 on the back of starring for Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics, debuting in their Champions Cup home loss to Bordeaux Bègles in December and signing a three-year deal later that month.
The 29-player panel for the encounter with England is captained by Leinster’s Max Deegan, with O’Toole one of six in the selection to have been fully capped at Test level for Ireland.
The squad, which meets up on Monday at the IRFU High Performance Centre, will fly out to Bristol on Friday.
Former Munster player Prendergast expects his panel to be given a tough test by England.
“I am hugely excited to work with such a talented group of players and coaches and we’re all looking forward to the opportunity to represent our country in Bristol this weekend,” he said.
“The squad will assemble on Monday and we’ll need to hit the ground running to ensure that everyone is up to speed.
“Sunday’s game presents a huge opportunity against what will be a well-drilled England side who boast a lot of Premiership experience in their ranks.
“It is a task that we will approach with a positive frame of mind.”
IRELAND ‘A’ SQUAD
Forwards (16): Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht), Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster), Oli Jager (Munster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster).
Backs (13): Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster)(2), Cathal Forde (Corinthians/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht), Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster), Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster), Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster) Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster).
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