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Former USA u20 international Roman Salanoa has been named in the Emerging Ireland squad for the upcoming Toyota Challenge matches in South Africa. The USA will also be sending a team to play in the series, though they will not collide with the Irish entry.
Salanoa was born and raised in Hawai’i and played for the USA at the 2016 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament. He joined the Leinster academy program in Dublin later that year, and made the switch to Munster in 2020. The 24-year-old is now eligible for Ireland on five-year residency.
It should be noted that the games are not considered ‘capture’ matches, and Salanoa will retain his US-eligibility until playing for Ireland or their senior ‘A’ side against equivalent opposition. Second row Joe McCarthy is also US-eligible having been born in Manhattan.
