Former England prop Kieran Brookes has landed an Ireland XV call-up, with a meeting against Fiji A waiting next month.
Kieran Brookes is back in the rugby conversation. The former England prop has been called up by the Ireland XV for a fixture against Fiji A next month, and it's a selection that will turn heads.
Brookes carries international pedigree from his time in an England shirt, and that experience in the tight five is exactly what a representative side wants when preparing for a physical contest. Front-row know-how counts for a lot in games like this, where scrums and set-piece authority can shape the whole afternoon.
On the other side, Fiji A bring the flair and power the Pacific islands are famous for. Expect fast hands, bruising carries and plenty of off-the-cuff creativity, which should make for a stern test of Ireland XV's structure and discipline up front.
As a development-style fixture, the match offers a chance for players to put their hands up and push for bigger opportunities. Brookes will be eager to show he still has plenty to offer, and all eyes will be on how he handles the Fijian pack when the teams meet next month.
