Miles: Emerging Ireland playing for World Cup places

Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles yesterday spoke of the common bond between everyone in Irish rugby to maximise overseas tours for the benefit of the game.

The Irish are in Romania to take part in the IRB Nations Cup against Russia, Uruguay and hosts Romania, and Miles pointed out that five of last year’s touring team in a similar competition in Tblisi went on to win full international honours.

Already, a number of the team named yesterday to take on Russia at the Stade National Arcul de Triumf here in Bucharest have worn the green jersey at full level but others, such as wing Andrew Conway, centre Eoin Griffin, front-row forwards Colum Black and Niall Annett, plus Dave Foley and Mick Kearney in the second-row and new Munster number eight Robin Copeland are battling for recognition.