Exiles Delighted With Ireland Presence
Our congratulations are due to the three Exiles who have been selected for the Ireland senior and Wolfhounds squads announced this week, namely Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, and Dan Tuohy.
Mike McCarthy was educated at two well-known rugby establishments – Sedbergh School and Brunel University. While at the latter, he starred in their British Universities Championship win of 2002, at Twickenham Stadium, but was overlooked by the Ireland Under-21 selectors and had to settle for going with England to the Under-21 World Championship.
He was then with the Wasps Academy before moving to Newcastle Falcons where he was a regular starter before his move to Connacht. One of his assets has been his flexibility, being equally at home in the second row or at blindside flanker.
Rhys Ruddock was educated at Millfield School, whom he captained, and played for the Wales Under-18s. However, he reverted to Ireland and indeed captained the Irish Under-20s last season to the RBS 6 Nations Championship title.
The highlight of the season for Rhys was when he was called up to the Ireland senior squad in the summer and received his first cap against Australia. He is, of course, the son of the current Ireland Under-20 head coach Mike Ruddock, and plays for Leinster.
Dan Tuohy came through the Gloucester Academy when he played for the Ireland Under-21s at the Under-21 World Championship in France. He subsequently played for the first team at Gloucester before moving to Exeter Chiefs where an outstanding season earned him a contract with Ulster.
He got a call-up to the Ireland senior squad last summer, when he made a try-scoring debut against the All Blacks. His recent performances for Ulster in the Heineken Cup have fully merited his Wolfhounds place.
We wish all three players the very best for the rest of the season.
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