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Rhys Ruddock has been appointed captain for the Irish tour of the USA and Japan. The Leinster flanker was today named leader of his country by Head Coach Joe Schmidt. Ruddock is the son of former Welsh Grand Slam Six Nations winning coach, Mike Ruddock. He was born in Dublin to an Irish mother but was schooled in Wales before going on to play for Ireland at junior levels.
The Irish team are to depart for the USA next Tuesday. Their opening match will be against the USA in New Jersey’s Red Bull Arena. From there they will travel to Japan to play two June Internationals. The matches against the Japanese are of added interest after the countries were drawn together for Rugby World Cup 2019.
Last week Americas Rugby News posted a possible Irish side to face the USA. Ruddock was named to start at flanker. The side included Ruddock in a loose-forward trio together with Tommy O’Donnell and Jack O’Donoghue.
The remainder of the team was similar in that it was mainly based on youth. Notwithstanding there were places for experienced test match players including Cian Healy, Devin Toner, Paddy Jackson, Keith Earls and Simon Zebo.
In others Munster flanker Tommy O’Donnell has been forced to withdraw from the tour due to an ankle injury. Ulster’s Sean Reidy has been drafted in as a replacement.
FORWARDS
Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Cian Healy (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Niall Scannell (Munster), James Tracy (Leinster), Quinn Roux (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Dan Leavy (Leinster), Sean Reidy (Ulster), Jack O’Donoghue (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (capt., Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
BACKS
John Cooney (Connacht), Kieran Marmion (Ulster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Joey Carbery (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Rory O’Loughlin (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Rory Scannell (Munster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht), Simon Zebo (Munster)
