CONNACHT’S IN-FORM wing Matt Healy was called up to train with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland this week in Carton House, along with provincial teammate Quinn Roux.
Both uncapped players were summoned to Ireland training camp this week as Schmidt’s men prepare for Saturday’s final round Six Nations clash with Scotland.
The clamour for Healy to be brought into the Ireland squad has been deafening this season, based on his scintillating form for Connacht. The 27-year-old is the Guinness Pro12′s leading try scorer, with nine tries in 17 starts for Pat Lam’s side.
Healy signed for Connacht in 2012 on the back of his outstanding performances for Lansdowne FC in the Ulster Bank League and has grown as a player ever since.
The former Gonzaga College student played for Ireland at U20s level, when he was still a scrum-half, and also represented Emerging Ireland in the 2015 Tbilisi Cup, scoring two tries in two starts.
Healy has played a major role in Connacht’s rise to the summit of the Pro12 this season and his call-up to train with Ireland is richly deserved.
South Africa native Roux is a player Schmidt knows well, having been the head coach who initially brought the imposing lock to Ireland when he signed him for Leinster ahead of the 2012/13 season.
Roux had two frustrating seasons with the eastern province, with injury holding him back, but has been rejuvenated since a move to Connacht in 2014.
The 25-year-old has had further injury misfortune with the westerners, but has made a total of 27 starts across the past two seasons and shown his quality as a developing lock.
The Pretoria native qualifies to play for Ireland under residency rules and joined his Connacht teammate and fellow lock Ultan Dillane at Carton House this week to help Schmidt’s side prepare for the Scotland encounter.
Connacht fans will now hope that Healy and Roux can play further and more involved parts with Ireland in the future.
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