FORMER MUNSTER U20 prop Paul Mullen has been included in the US Eagles squad for their June Tests against Russia, Scotland and Canada.
A product of Glenstal Abbey, Mullen was tighthead for the combined Munster/Connacht side that played in the curtain-raising fixture for the newly renovated Aviva Stadium.
Now 26, Mullen moved to study at Texas A&M in 2011 and currently plays for the Houston SaberCats.
In the camp ahead, Mullen will at some point find himself pitted against outgoing Ulster stalwart Callum Black – who is hoping to win his first cap for his native country at the age of 32.
Irish-qualified through his grandfather, Black represented Ireland at age grades up to U21 and toured with Emerging Ireland in 2014. He will return to play with Worcester Warriors in the Premiership next season.
The two newcomers join the more recognisable Irish Eagles in AJ MacGinty, Dylan Fawsitt and John Quill for the training camp beginning on 27 May for Tests in Denver, Houston and Nova Scotia.
US Eagles squad for June Tests 2018
Forwards: Chris Baumann (Leicester Tigers), Callum Black (Ulster), Nick Civetta (Newcastle Falcons), Cam Dolan, Tony Lamborn, Siaosi Mahoni (both San Diego Legion), Ben Landry, Dylan Fawsitt, John Quill (all Glendale Raptors), Eric Fry (Vannes), Hanco Germishuys (Austin Elite), James Hilterbrand (Manly Marlins), Olive Kilifi (Seattle Seawolves), Samu Manoa (Toulon), Paul Mullen (Houston SaberCats), David Tameilau (Utah Warriors), Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors).
Backs: Dylan Audsley, Shaun Davies, Nate Augspurger, Ben Cima, Ryan Matyas (all San Diego Legion), Marcel Brache (Western Force), Bryce Campbell, Will Magie (both Glendale Raptors), Ruben de Haas (Free State Cheetahs),Will Hooley (Bedford Blues), Paul Lasike (Utah Warriors), AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks), Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues).
Fixtures
v Russia, 9 June, Denver
v Scotland, 16 June, Houston
v Canada, 23 June, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Class score to win the game, Derry ran em to the end.
Great match. What a point by McBrearty to win it. Devastated for Derry though, they played so well
Wow Paddy McBrearty. What a kick!! I felt the referee should have let Derry get a shot off the end. Hard on them.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: he did, he played a minute over the added time with Derry in possession inside the Donegal 45. Derry lads didn’t have a go. Derry unlucky on the day though, great game.
@Shimmy Shammy: in 2015 in the munster final between Cork and Kerry, Cork were beating kerry by a point. Well over the allocated injury time, Fionn Fitzgerald kicked the equalising point. The ref didn’t blow it up till the shot was taken. The ref should have let derry get a shot off.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Fionn Fitzgerald took that on from 45 yards because the ref was about to blow up. A Derry player should have done the same
@Eoin Fitzgerald: That game has no relevance on today, how long do you give them? They had at least 3/4 opportunities to shoot but opted to recycle the ball. Derry played well today but will regret that passage of play.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Two wrongs don’t make a right. None of the Derry players wanted to take on the responsibility of shooting. The ref can’t kick it for them.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Maybe a great bit of trivia there Eoin but thems not the rules lad. The “we were hard done by so everyone else needs to suffer too” mentality is a little weak..
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Ref played a minute over and gave Derry ample time to get the shot off. Even when he blew for full time he motioned to the players that ye were just passing back and forth. Nobody wanted the responsibility of taking a shot. Better to take a shot and try rather than not at all.
@Alan Kenny: I think fair play to mcgoldrick for blowing it. 53 seconds inside the opposition half and no shot. If he let it go another 30 seconds w d be up in arms over it
@Eoin Fitzgerald: the ref gave them more than enough time to have a shot.
@Alan Kenny: he did indicate that allright
When losing team is down by one score they should be allowed to continue playing only in opponents half and it’s up to winning team to dispossess them or put ball out of play