Dave Heffernan became the latest Buccaneers player to win a senior Ireland cap when he came on as a substitute in the recent win against the United States.
A versatile player, Heffernan first played in Buccs' backrow where Connacht also utilised him. In more recent seasons the Ballina native was switched with considerable success to front row duty, and he has come on in leaps and bounds as hooker in the past couple of years.
Two other Pirates also played in that victory over the Eagles, with Tiernan O’Halloran starting at fullback and prop Finlay Bealham coming in as a replacement. O’Halloran and Bealham were both used as substitutes in the subsequent win over Japan.
Meanwhile, Jordan Conroy scored a try in each of Ireland’s matches in last week’s European Sevens tournament in Poland.
Anna McGann was included for the first time with the Ireland Womens Sevens squad in a World Cup qualifier tournament in France at the weekend. Ireland finished third, but McGann did not get any game time, although she would have gained valuable experience from her involvement.
It was the same story for Luke Carty who was called up to the Ireland U20 squad that is undergoing a torrid Junior World Cup campaign in Georgia. However, he too was consigned to the bench.
