 Declan Fitzpatrick is an Ireland under-21 international |
Eight Ulster players have been named in the Ireland A squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup in the USA and Canada next month. Bryn Cunningham, Andrew Maxwell and Paddy Wallace are among the backs in the 28-man squad.
Full caps Roger Wilson and Matt McCullough are joined by Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McMillan and recent signing Tom Court in the forwards.
The only other full caps in the squad are David Quinlan and Kieran Lewis.
Ireland under-21 international Fitzpatrick is a surprise inclusion.
He is a full-time contracted Ulster player but he has yet to play any Celtic League or Heineken Cup games for the province.
 |  The tour is about exposing players to a higher level of international rugby and giving them a platform to improve |
The largely youthful squad will be captained by Leicester forward Shane Jennings.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan emphasised that the squad had been selected on a "developmental basis".
"The tour is about exposing players to a higher level of international rugby and giving them a platform to improve," said O'Sullivan.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley will be in charge of the team and he is expecting tough games.
"Our opening game against a USA team playing at home will certainly be a stern test for us and we will need to gel together quickly so we can put in a performance," said Bradley.
"Our second game against New Zealand Maoris will be as tough as they come. When you consider that this time last year they beat the Lions, you can see what a hard game we are in for."
The Irish will open their Churchill Cup campaign with a game against the USA in San Franciso on 3 June.
They will face the New Zealand Maoris in San Francisco on 10 June before taking on either Canada, England A or Scotland A in Edmonton on 17 June.
Ireland A squad: (backs) B Cunningham, I Dowling, J Hearty, E Hickey, C Keane, R Kearney, S Keogh, M Lawlor, K Lewis, A Maxwell, T O'Leary, D Quinlan, P Wallace
(forwards) B Blaney, D Browne, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, J Fogarty, D Gannon, J Heaslip, R Hogan, T Hogan, S Jennings (capt), J Muldoon, R McCormack, M McCullough, N McMillan, R Wilson.
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