Garryowen to represent Ireland in France

AIB League champions Garryowen will travel to France to represent Ireland in the Languedoc-Roussillon amateur international rugby tournament, which is taking place from September 3-15.

Der Healy, President of the IRFU commented: "I warmly congratulate Garryowen on qualifying to represent Ireland as proud champions of the AIB League. They travel with the best wishes of the Irish Rugby Football Union to an event in which our participation is a core element of the excellently conceived AIB- IRFU Community Rugby Programme.

"The welfare of the game amongst the non-contracted players is a top priority of mine and I know that the renowned Garryowen club will acquit themselves and Irish club rugby admirably."

Garryowen qualified to represent Ireland in the tournament following their win over Cork Constitution in the AIB League Division 1 play-off last May.

All travel and participation costs for the tournament will be covered by the IRFU and AIB.

Garryowen will compete against amateur representative club sides from the Languedoc-Roussillon region itself, Argentina, Romania, the Catalonia region in Spain and Cambridge University.

Conor Maguire, Manager, AIB O'Connell Street, Limerick, said: "I am delighted that Garryowen are travelling to France to represent Irish club rugby in the Languedoc-Roussillon tournament. The club excelled in the AIB Cup and AIB League final playoffs earlier this year.

"This tournament is another exciting addition to the amateur club scene and given that it is taking place during the World Cup, I am sure it will be a wonderful occasion for the Garryowen players and backroom team alike."

Garryowen will play in the following fixtures:

September 4: Selection of Languedoc-Roussillon v Garryowen, Limoux, 5.30pm

September 7: Garryowen v Romania, Saint-Chinian, 6pm

September 11: Garryowen v Tucuman, Gard, Time TBC

The tournament final will be held on September 14 in the new 'Yves du Manoir' Stadium in Montpellier.