Five Connacht players called up to Irish squad for upcoming November tests
CONNACHT rugby has received a ringing endorsement of what they have been achieving on the field of play with no less than five players named on Ireland’s 37-man training squad for the forthcoming Guinness series tests against South Africa, Georgia and Australia.
With the province due to face Exeter Chiefs in the European Challenge Cup at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm), Pat Lam’s outfit will be buoyed by the inclusion of Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You along with uncapped pair Darragh Leader and Nathan White in the Irish squad.
Leader’s addition to the Ireland set-up for the first time will be a particular source of pride for Galway’s rugby fraternity – the 21-year-old being one of their own – but it is certainly merited given he has started all seven games for Connacht this season and performed well in each.
The Connacht full-back, who has also played at centre, graduated from the Connacht Academy, having played his rugby with his alma mater, St. Joseph’s College (The Bish) and Galwegians RFC.
Having represented Ireland at U-19 and U-20 level, he earned his first provincial cap against the Ospreys in the Autumn of 2012 and has continued to make steady progress ever since.
Indeed, Leader was very much to the fore in the 48-12 victory over French side La Rochelle in the opening round of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground last weekend and should again feature for the province against the Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
In addition to the five Connacht international call-ups, they have also been boosted by the arrival of 24-year-old New Zealand recruit Bundee Aki, while it has also been confirmed that second row Michael Swift has recovered from a leg injury and will be available for selection this weekend.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.