 |
CATEGORIES | TV | RADIO | COMMUNICATE | WHERE I LIVE | INDEX |  |
SEARCH | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
You are in: Rugby Union: Celtic |
|
|
|
Tuesday, 21 May, 2002, 14:59 GMT 15:59 UK
Wallace for Twickenham
Paddy Wallace (left) on duty at Twickenham
Paddy Wallace forsakes his home club turf for Twickenham on Saturday.
Wallace is one of three Ulster players included in the 10-man Ireland squad for the England leg of the World Sevens Series. The 22-year-old Ballymena fly-half was due to feature in the game at Eaton Park where an Irish XV take on a club President's side. Wallace will be joined by Dungannon duo Aidan Kearney and Kieran Campbell. First run-out The remainder of the side, captained by Blackrock's David Quinlan, sees a number of untried players involved. The two flyers in the side are Barnhall's Brendan Burke and Blackrock's James Ferris. Garryowen's Paul Neville and Lansdowne's Aiden McCullen are included as the link between forwards and backs. John McWeeney, the St Mary's left wing, is the only full international on duty, while they have also pulled in Cormac Dowling, who plays for the Strawberry Hill club in England. This will be Ireland's first run-out in the World Series which is headed by runaway defending champions New Zealand after nine rounds around the globe.
Because of the heavy itinerary this season by their top players, Ireland have not been able to enter previous tournaments. Unlike England and the southern hemisphere teams, Ireland are not blessed with a large pool of players at the top end of the game. However, the International Rugby Board have insisted that they participate in at least two tournaments this season.
After Twickenham, the squad will remain together and move to Cardiff for the next leg. Team manager Kurt McQuilkan expects a real tough time. ''It's is a bit unfortunate,'' he said. 'Great experience' ''But Ireland just have not got the players. ''It was would be nice to have the likes of Brian O'Driscoll and Denis Hickie on board. ''But even then, we probably would not live with the rest of the sides as their players have played regularly throughout the nine tournaments. ''But at least it will be a great experience for the players.'' Coach of the side is former Ireland flanker Denis McBride who has to conjure a way to stop group opponents South Africa, France and Argentina running amok. Ireland's opponents in Cardiff are the New Zealand, Argentina again and Scotland. Ireland Sevens squad: D Quinlan (Blackrock), A Kearney (Dungannon), A McCullen (Landowne), P Neville (Garryowen), K Campbell (Dungannon), P Wallace (Ballymena), J McWeeney (St Mary's), J Ferris (Blackrock), C Dowling (Strawberry Hill), B Burke (Barnhall).
|
|
See also:
19 May 02 | N Ireland
18 May 02 | N Ireland
17 May 02 | Celtic
Top Celtic stories now:
Links to more Celtic stories are at the foot of the page.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
 E-mail this story to a friend |
|
|
|
Links to more Celtic stories |
|
|
|
||
 |
||||
 |
|
|
||
|
------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> | BBC Weather >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |
