Five Munster Stars Shine in Ireland XV Squad for Showdown Against Spain
Ireland’s rugby coach, Cullie Tucker, has unveiled the Match Day Squad set to compete against Spain. This exciting match is scheduled for Saturday at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in Leganés, kicking off at 5 PM local time (4 PM Irish time). A total of four Munster players—Dan Kelly, Michael Milne, Evan O’Connell, and Ruadhán Quinn—will take key positions in the starting lineup.
Munster Stars Represent Ireland XV
Leading the team is Ulster hooker Tom Stewart, who has been named captain. Stewart is joined by ten Test-capped international players in the starting fifteen, showcasing a wealth of experience.
Starting XV breakdown
The back three includes notable senior internationals Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, and Shayne Bolton. In the midfield, Dan Kelly partners with Jude Postlethwaite from Ulster, while the half-back duo consists of Harry Byrne from Leinster and Connacht’s Ben Murphy.
The front row features an all-Test lineup with Michael Milne, Tom Stewart, and Tom O’Toole. The second row includes Evan O’Connell alongside Darragh Murray, who recently debuted during the Summer Tour. Completing the back row are Alex Soroka, Ruadhan Quinn, and Paul Boyle.
Bench Strength
The Ireland XV coaching staff has placed strong reliance on the bench. Lee Barron, Alex Usanov, Scott Wilson, Diarmuid Mangan, and David McCann are ready to provide forward support. Backline options include Nathan Doak, Cathal Forde, and Zac Ward.
Match Availability
Fans can catch the action live on RugbyPass TV, marking an important fixture in their international schedule.
Complete Ireland XV (vs Spain)
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Michael Lowry | Banbridge/Ulster |
| 14 | Robert Baloucoune | Enniskillen/Ulster |
| 13 | Jude Postlethwaite | City of Armagh/Ulster |
| 12 | Dan Kelly | Highfield/Munster |
| 11 | Shayne Bolton | Connacht |
| 10 | Harry Byrne | UCD/Leinster |
| 9 | Ben Murphy | Clontarf/Connacht |
| 1 | Michael Milne | UCD/Munster |
| 2 | Tom Stewart (C) | Ballynahinch/Ulster |
| 3 | Tom O’Toole | Ballynahinch/Ulster |
| 4 | Evan O’Connell | Young Munster/Munster |
| 5 | Darragh Murray | Buccaneers/Connacht |
| 6 | Alex Soroka | Clontarf/Leinster |
| 7 | Ruadhan Quinn | Young Munster/Munster |
| 8 | Paul Boyle | Buccaneers/Connacht |
Replacements
- Lee Barron (Dublin University/Munster)
- Alex Usanov (Clontarf/Leinster)
- Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
- Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
- David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster)
- Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)
- Cathal Forde (Corinthians/Connacht)
- Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
This match against Spain presents an opportunity for the Ireland XV to showcase their emerging talent and experienced players alike.
