In June 2013, Ireland toured North America, playing test matches against Canada and the United States. The tour was part of the second year of the global rugby calendar established by World Rugby (known as the International Rugby Board prior to November 2014), which will run until 2019, with Ireland helping to expand Test opportunities for Tier 2 nations in 2013.
Fixtures Date Venue Home Score Away 8 June 2013 BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston 12–15 15 June 2013 BMO Field, Toronto 14–40
Matches
United States
FB 15Chris WylesRW 14Luke Hume OC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Andrew SuniulaLW 11Takudzwa NgwenyaFH 10Toby L'EstrangeSH 9 Mike PetriN8 8 Todd Clever (c) OF 7 Scott LaVallaBF 6 Samu ManoaRL 5 Louis StanfillLL 4 Brian Doyle TP 3 Eric FryHK 2 Chris BillerLP 1 Shawn PittmanReplacements:HK 16Zach FenoglioPR 17Nicholas WallacePR 18Phil ThielLK 19Peter Dahl FL 20John QuillSH 21Robbie ShawWG 22James Paterson FH 23Adam SiddallCoach: Mike Tolkin FB 15Robbie HenshawRW 14Fergus McFadden OC 13Darren CaveIC 12Stuart OldingLW 11Simon ZeboFH 10Ian MadiganSH 9 Isaac Boss N8 8 Peter O'Mahony (c)OF 7 Chris Henry BF 6 Iain HendersonRL 5 Devin TonerLL 4 Mike McCarthy TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Richardt Strauss LP 1 Dave Kilcoyne Replacements:HK 16Mike Sherry PR 17Jamie Hagan PR 18Tom Court LK 19Dan Tuohy FL 20Tommy O'Donnell SH 21Paul Marshall FH 22Paddy JacksonWG 23Felix Jones Coach: Les Kiss Man of the Match: Ian Madigan (Ireland)
Touch judges: Bryan Arciero (Canada) Chris Assmus (Canada) Notes: This match set a record attendance for a United States home game.
Canada
FB 15Connor Braid RW 14James PritchardOC 13Ciaran HearnIC 12Harry JonesLW 11Taylor ParisFH 10Nathan HirayamaSH 9 Phil Mack N8 8 Aaron Carpenter (c) OF 7 John Moonlight BF 6 Tyler ArdronRL 5 Tyler Hotson LL 4 Jebb SinclairTP 3 Jason Marshall HK 2 Ray Barkwill LP 1 Hubert Buydens Replacements:HK 16Ryan Hamilton PR 17Andrew Tiedemann PR 18Doug Wooldridge LK 19Jon Phelan FL 20Nanyak Dala SH 21Sean White CE 22Nick Blevins CE 23Pat Parfrey Coach: Kieran Crowley FB 15Felix JonesRW 14Fergus McFaddenOC 13Darren Cave IC 12James DowneyLW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Ian Madigan SH 9 Isaac Boss N8 8 Peter O'Mahony (c)OF 7 Tommy O'DonnellBF 6 Kevin McLaughlin RL 5 Devin TonerLL 4 Dan Tuohy TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Richardt Strauss LP 1 Tom Court Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Declan Fitzpatrick LK 19Mike McCarthy FL 20Chris Henry SH 21Paul Marshall FH 22Paddy Jackson FB 23Robbie Henshaw Coach: Les Kiss Man of the Match: Fergus McFadden (Ireland)
Touch judges: Nick Ricono (United States) Ed Gardner (United States) Notes: This match set a record attendance for a rugby match on Canadian soil.
Touring squad Caps and ages are to first test date, 8 June
Notes Pre tour and post 2013 Six Nations Championship, the then head coach Declan Kidney, was sacked from his role as head coach of Ireland. Leinster's head coach Joe Schmidt was named as Kidney's replacement, but will be unable to fill the role for Ireland's Summer Tour. Therefore, assistant head coach Les Kiss, was named as interim head coach for the Summer Tour to Canada and United States.
The initial squad was named on 19 May 2014, with Rory Best as captain. It was a significantly weaker squad due to a number of regular Irish players in the British & Irish Lions squad for their 2013 tour to Australia. The squad then lost their original captain, Rory Best, on 26 May, due to a call to the Lions squad. Peter O'Mahony was named as his replacement in terms of captaincy, and Seán Cronin filled the void left in the hookers. Ahead of the test against Canada, Ireland then lost Simon Zebo to the Lions. Zebo who has started in the test against the United States, was not replaced.
References