Connacht’s rising stars for Argentina

TWO of Connacht’s rising stars have been named in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad to tour Argentina this summer.

In the same week the IRFU confirmed an extra €1 million funding boost for the province, Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion were included in the 30-man squad that will play two international tests against the host nation this June.

Henshaw, who has three Ireland caps, and the uncapped Ireland-qualified, Wales-born scrum-half Marmion, will seek to use the tour as a springboard onto the national team ahead of the next Six Nations and 2015 World Cup in England.

Athlone versatile back Henshaw was capped against USA and Canada on last season’s summer tour of North America, and as a substitute against Australia in the autumn.

It appears likely the 20-years-old will be tried out in the number 13 jersey, with Brian O’Driscoll retired, although he could also slot in at full-back, his regular club position.

Marmion, 22, is one of three scrum-halves included by Schmidt, and one of four uncapped players in the squad.  With first choice in the Six Nations championship winning team, Conor Murray and his deputy, Eoin Reddan, on the plane, Marmion might struggle to get game-time, although the experience will stand to him regardless.

His inclusion in the set-up is just desserts, however, as the composed and assured scrum-half has been Connacht’s most consistent performer in the season just gone; Marmion’s dedication to the cause was epitomised by him playing a Heineken Cup match against Toulouse this season, just hours after being released from hospital with a virus. Ireland play Argentina on Saturday, June 7 (7.40pm Irish time) and the following Saturday, June 14, (7.40pm Irish time).

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune