The Irish Schools rugby squad to tour Australia during August has been announced by the management today (July 13th). The squad will depart for Australia on July 24th, where they will play seven games, culminating with a test match against the Australian Schools team in Canberra on August 26th.

The two previous trips to Australia by the Irish Schools team in 1996 and 2000 were highly successful as the tourists remained undefeated on both occasions, including the test matches against their Australian counterparts.

The 1996 side contained future internationals Peter Stringer, Ciaran Scally, Robert Casey and Leo Cullen. The 2000 team was captained by Ireland's newest International player, Gavan Duffy, who made his full Ireland debut when coming on for the injured Girvan Dempsey in Ireland's game against South Africa in Cape Town.

The 2004 team will take part in a training camp this weekend in Kings Hospital School before departing the following weekend.

Backs: Joe Burns (Coleraine A.I.), Fionn Carr (Newbridge College), Darren Cave (Sullivan Upper School), Conan Doyle (Ard Scoil Ris), Rory Drysdale (Belfast Royal Academy), Tom Gleeson (PBC Cork), Conor Guildea (Terenure College), Robert Kearney (Clongowes Wood College), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College), Peter Shallow ( Rockwell College), Jonathan Shortt (CBC Cork), Duncan Williams (CBC Cork).

Forwards: Paul Collins (Templeogue College), Jamie Cornett (Royal School Armagh), Sean Cronin (Ard Scoil Ris), Michael Essex (CBC Cork), Billy Holland (CBC Cork), Darragh Hurley (CBC Cork), Diarmuid Laffan (Blackrock College), Gary Mitchell (Royal Belfast A.I.), Barry O'Mahony (Crescent College), Gavin O'Meara (St Mary's College), Darren O'Reilly (Blackrock College), David Pollock (Royal School Dungannon), Devin Toner (Castlenock College), Gary Walsh (Blackrock College).

Match schedule:Ireland V New South Wales Country: Sunday, August 1st (Singleton, Hunter Valley) Ireland V Queensland Schools (II): Wednesday, August 4th (Noosa, Sunshine Coast) Ireland V Queensland Schools: Saturday, August 7th (Anglican Church G.S., Brisbane) Ireland V New South Wales Combined High Schools: Wednesday, August 11th (Sydney) Ireland V New South Wales: Sunday, August 15th (Sydney) Ireland V Australia 'A': Sunday, August 22nd (Sydney) Ireland V Australia: Thursday, August 26th (Canberra) Management: Peter Melia (Coach) Keith Patton (Assistant Coach) Barney McGonigle (Manager) David Eakin (Assistant Manager) Roger Wilson (Doctor) David Lyons (Physiotherapist)