AS IS ALWAYS the case in rugby, injury woes are opening up opportunities for young stars across the provinces.
The squads for the European Champions and Challenge Cup were released today with plenty of fresh faces and 90s birthdays among Ireland’s provinces.
The initial squads form the bulk of a head coach’s selection options for the tournament ahead. Though a total of five names can be handed late call-ups to the squads – two during the group phase and three in the knockout stage.
With all Ulster’s injury woes, they will be hoping to use at lease one call-up when Jared Payne returns to fitness in January. While Iain Henderson’s six-week lay-off was not enough to exclude him from the Ulster contingent, Ireland centre Payne is not in Les Kiss’ 41-strong group, sitting outside the squad along with Tommy Bowe who will be hoping Ulster can progress deep into the competition to keep his chances of involvement alive.
The misfortunes of Payne and Bowe perhaps open up possibilities for not only 19-year-old Sam Arnold, who has been an impressive force whenever he pops up in Ulster’s midfield, but his fellow teen Jacob Stockdale has also been handed a place among Kiss’ back-line option.
With Bowe set to miss the majority of the season, 22-year-old Rory Scholes will also feel he has a chance to make an impact this term.
In a week when they announced the untimely retirement of fullback Felix Jones, Munster have included 19-year-old Stephen Fitzgerald among their ranks for the Champions Cup pool phase.
With Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Jones’ immediate replacement Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino all returning from World Cup duty, Fitzgerald won’t be thrown in to the deep end straight away, but will be competing for places along side former Cork hurler Darren Sweetnam who also makes Anthony Foley’s cut.
Leinster’s injury worries aren’t quite as pronounced of course, but with their squad turnover over recent seasons the sight of fresh talent like lock Ross Molony, centre Garry Ringrose (both 20) and fullback Cian Kelleher (21) is no less welcome.
In the Challenge Cup, Connacht have new signing AJ MacGinty on board to bolster their out-half options, but Pat Lam’s youngest registered players are in the tight five where 19-year-old, 18 stone tighthead Conan O’Donnell will weigh in to add European experience to his two Pro12 caps.
Perhaps a few steps ahead on the development curve is former Ireland under 20 captain Sean O’Brien who will hope to pack down in the second row before celebrating his 21st birthday in December.
