The Exiles, on the other hand, will meet together for the first time this Saturday. Coaches Peter Halsall and Kevan Bell will need to develop a simple game-plan within which these young players will be able to express themselves.

A front row of Kieran Brookes and Declan Farrell, both Ireland Under-18 Clubs XV internationals, and Sean McCarthy should provide the Exiles with a sound platform to work off.

Kieran will be playing for the Exiles instead of travelling to Ulster with Newcastle for a pre-season friendly.

Also in the squad is former Ireland U-18 player Charlie Armstrong who has a late fitness test on Thursday. In all, there are seven former Ireland U-18 Clubs XV players in the squad.

Backs Nat McDonald and Luke O'Keefe both played for the U-18s last season, while Tchad Collins-Francois and James Stephenson played underage for Ireland the previous season.

A more than interested spectator at the game will be Ireland Under-20 coach Allen Clarke. He will be hoping that the game highlights potential talent that he can take forward into the Ireland set-up.