Ireland Under-21s To Play Italy in Udine

With the RBS Six Nations Championship occupying everybody’s thoughts, the Ireland Under-21s will also be opening their Six Nations Championship away to Italy in Udine (110km from Venice) this Saturday.

Influential Dungannon out-half Gareth Steenson returns from last year’s side and will captain the team, with Belfast Harlequins winger Paul McKenzie also a survivor from 2004.

Another notable member of the team is international wing Tommy Bowe, who made his senior debut against the USA during the autumn and is also a survivor from last year’s World Cup finalist side.

The Ireland Under-21 Team and replacements to play against Italy U21 in Udine on Saturday, 5th February at 14.30hrs, is as follows:

(15) Mark Kettyle (Belfast Harlequins)
(14) Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins)
(13) Tom Gleeson (UCC)
(12) Andrew Trimble (Ballymena)
(11) Paul McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins)
(10) Gareth Steenson (Dungannon) (Captain)
(9) Cillian Willis (UCD)
(1) Michael Diffley (Buccaneers)
(2) Joseph Merrigan (Corinthians)
(3) John Andress (Belfast Harlequins)
(4) Lewis Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins)
(5) Mark Melbourne (Garryowen)
(6) Brett McNamee (Northampton)
(7) Anthony Kavanagh (Garryowen)
(8) Stephen Ferris (Dungannon)

Replacements:

(16) Stuart Philpott (Saracens)
(17) Eamonn Bracken (Buccaneers)
(18) Trevor Richardson (Buccaneers)
(19) Chris Henry (Malone)
(20) David O’Leary (UCC)
(21) Barry Keeshan (Cork Constitution)
(22) Kieran Geraghty (London Irish)

Coach: Mark McDermott
Assistant Coach: Brian Walsh
Manager: David Haslett