IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

The heat is on for Ireland’s competition-hardened junior squad in the Oblast region of Russia.

A 12-strong Irish panel arrived in sun-splashed – temperatures are hitting 35 degrees – city of Tyumen last Thursday and are training and sparring with Russia, Germany and the USA Junior Olympic team.

All four nations will clash in the Veles Cup between July 16th and 21st.

Jason McKay, who claimed silver at the recent European Junior Championships in Bulgaria along with Brian Wall, is included in the Irish team.

Irish coach Billy McClean reports that Ireland are getting a lot of work done at their training camp 1,332 miles east of Moscow.

“The squad have settled in well and training has been going very well. The squad will be training with the Russian team that won a lot of gold medals at the recent European Junior Championships in Bulgaria this week.

“Germany and the USA have two very strong looking teams here also and we’re looking forward to getting a lot of work done with all three nations and competing in the Veles Cup later this month.”

Russia claimed seven gold and three silver medals at the 2012 European Junior Championships.

Ireland, courtesy of McKay and Wall, and Germany, were the only two western European countries to reach the finals at 2012 European Junior Championships.

Irish squad

46kg: Ryan Green (Oakleaf)

48kg: Jason McKay (Canal)

50kg: Colm Molloy (Oughterard)

52kg: Gary Cully (St Davids)

54kg: Conor Byrne (Holy Trinity)

57kg: Mike McDonagh (St Pauls)

60kg: Jack Connelly (Clonmel)

63kg: Caoimhin Hynes (Holy Trinity)

66kg: Conor Wallace (Sacred Heart)

70kg: Luke Thomas (Watergrasshill) cpt

80kg: Mike Gallagher (Finn Valley)

80kg+: James Hughes (Ryston)