Ireland A to face England in Bristol February fixture

The fixture will take place on the day following the Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales in nearby Cardiff.

Ireland's Head Coach Andy Farrell. Pic ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Andy Farrell will get another opportunity to test Ireland’s strength in depth with the announcement of an A international fixture against England in Bristol next February.

Ireland A will travel to Ashton Gate to face England A at 1pm on Sunday, February 23, the day following the Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales in nearby Cardiff.

Head coach Farrell will by that stage have begun his leadership of the British & Irish Lions ahead of next summer’s tour to Australia and a three-Test series against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies, but his use of non-Test matches during international windows has proven profitable as fringe players are given experience of national camps and exposed to quality opposition in readiness for senior call-ups further down the line.

An Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa in the autumn of 2022 handed opportunities to future Six Nations title winners Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash while Ciaran Frawley, the drop-goal hero of this summer’s second-Test victory in South Africa against the world champion Springboks was handed an initial opportunity for an Ireland XV in matches against the Maori All Blacks and a New Zealand XV.

Jamie Osborne earned his Test debut at full-back in that second Test against the Boks in Durban on the back of that Emerging Ireland tour and the concept will be renewed this October when defence coach Simon Easterby resumes his role as its head coach for a return to South Africa and matches against provincial sides the Pumas and Cheetahs as well as Australia’s Western Force.

The England A fixture will provide another chance to challenge Ireland’s squad depth with the likes of fly-half Sam Prendergast and lock/flanker Cormac Izuchukwu offered further opportunities after touring with the Test squad to South Africa last month without earning debut caps.

The English clearly view this match up in the same vein with RFU Executive Director of Performance Conor O’Shea reviving their A team earlier this year against Portugal and lining up a similar fixture against Australia this November.

The previous meeting between England and Ireland A , then named the Saxons and Wolfhounds respectively came in 2015 in Cork when the visitors won 18-9 at Musgrave Park.

Former Ireland full-back O’Shea said of the upcoming renewal: “Next year’s game is a fantastic development opportunity for the respective unions, each of whom possesses some of the most exciting young prospects in rugby.

“Our aim is to have consistent gametime in each international period for our emerging players. This fixture, alongside the Australia A game, is testament to the work being put in to ensure there is a window of opportunity for players and coaches outside of the England senior men’s set-up.”