Rhys Ruddock’s World Cup chances boosted by inclusion in Emerging Ireland squad

Leinster backrow Rhys Ruddock has been included in the Emerging Ireland squad to travel to Georgia to compete in the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup in June.

Ruddock will use the competition as a springboard to boost his World Cup squad chances, having missed out on the conclusion of the season through injury.

Ruddock’s World Cup hopes were put in doubt last month by a recurrence of the arm problem which has sidelined him for all but two games since mid-December.

Ulster forwards coach Allen Clarke and Leinster's Academy Manager Girvan Dempsey take charge of the side who will face off against Emerging Italy, Uruguay and Georgia.

Clarke says that the competition is an ideal opportunity to develop some of the emerging talent from the four provinces, “with the support of some experienced players in a very challenging tournament format.

“It’s a great opportunity to see how these players react and perform faced with the challenge of a short preparation.”

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt also added;

"There are some exciting prospects in this Emerging Ireland squad and the Tbilisi Cup is an ideal challenge for them, especially as both Georgia and Uruguay will be using this tournament to springboard their Rugby World Cup campaigns."

Emerging Ireland will face off against Emerging Italy in their opening game of the tournament on Saturday 13th June. Four days later they take on Uruguay with their final game coming against the host nation Georgia on Sunday 21st June. Both Uruguay and Georgia will compete in this year’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Emerging Ireland Squad

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)

Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)

Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster)

John Cooney (Terenure/Connacht)

James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)

Eoin Griffin (London Irish)

JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)

Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)

Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)

Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)

Eoin McKeon (Corinthians/Connacht)

Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)

Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)

Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)

Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)

Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)

Frank Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Andy Warwick (Ballymena/Ulster)