Ireland U-18 Schools Squad Announced For FIRA/AER Championship : Irish Rugby

The Ireland Under-18 Schools squad, sponsored by PwC, has been named for the upcoming Under-18 European Championship in Spain from March 29 to April 8.

The Ireland Under-18 Schools squad will warm up for their defence of the FIRA/AER Under-18 European Championship title with a pre tournament friendly against Scotland at Coolmine RFC this Sunday (kick-off 12pm).

This year's Justin Bridou-sponsored European Championship takes place in Spain with Ireland drawn in the Elite group alongside England, Wales, France, Scotland, Italy, Georgia and Portugal.

Ireland won the tournament in France last year for the first time having previously reached two finals with the U-18 Clubs team.

The U-18 Schools side, who beat a fancied England team 17-8 to take the title in 2011, will play Portugal in Ciudad Universitaria in Madrid in their opening game.

The winners of that fixture will progress to a semi-final where they will face either France or Scotland.

Terry McMaster will coach the 26-man Ireland squad with the assistance of Paul Barr and Kenny Hooks.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Squad (FIRA/AER Under-18 European Championship, Madrid, March 29-April 8):

Max Abbott (PBC Cork/Munster)
Benjamin Alexander (RBAI/Ulster)
Shane Boyle (Sligo GS/Connacht)
Harrison Brewer (Terenure College/Leinster)
William Dardis (Terenure College/Leinster)
Shane Delahunt (Kilkenny College/Leinster)
Dylan Donnellan (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
Josh Fullerton (CCB/Ulster)
Bobby Holland (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
David Johnston (Rockwell College/Munster)
Cian Kelleher (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Daniel Leavy (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Gearoid Lyons (Crescent College/Munster)
Rory Maloney (CC Roscrea/Connacht)
Eoghan McKeever (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)
Conor McKeon (Gonzaga College/Leinster)
Saba Meunargia (Marist College/Connacht)
Ross Molony (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (CC Roscrea/Connacht)
Cormac O’Donnell (St. Munchin's/Munster)
Ruairi O’Farrell (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jack O’Neill (Castleknock College/Leinster)
Gregory O'Shea (Crescent College/Munster)
Rory O'Loughlin (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Charlie Slowey (CBC Cork/Munster)
Peadar Timmins (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)

Ireland U-18 Schools Management -

Terry McMaster - Head Coach
Paul Barr - Assistant Coach
Kenny Hooks - Assistant Coach
John McKinney - Team Manager
Chris Shield - Fitness Coach
Ozzie Fogarty - Team Doctor
David Lyons - Team Physio
Vinny Hammond - Team Analyst
Nicola Lyons - Team Co-ordinator
John Moran - Team Assistant

Watch Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt announce the team to play Italy and he answer questions, along with captain Paul O'Connell, ahead of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

Irish Rugby TV caught up with Ireland prop Cian Healy to get his views on the scrum battle with the Italians and what it is like working with forwards coach John Plumtree.