Categories: Ireland U20

Ireland Under-20 Team To Play Wales

The Ireland Under-20 team and replacements, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been named for their penultimate fixture of the RBS U-20 6 Nations Championship at Dubarry Park, where they take on their Welsh counterparts.

Ireland Under-20 coach Allen Clarke is pleased to select from a full panel and for the first time in the Championship, has made changes to his starting line-up.

For Friday’s crucial ESB International clash, recent Connacht debutant Tiernan O’Halloran will make his first start of the campaign on the left wing.

There is also a new look to the front row as Jack O’Connell moves from tighthead to loosehead prop, with Stewart Maguire being promoted from the replacements for his first start, taking over from Bryan Cagney.

There are two new faces on the bench with Leinster’s Risteard Byrne and Gareth Quinn McDonogh from Munster coming into the matchday 22 for the first time.

Speaking of his selection and of the task at hand, Clarke said: “Whilst the decision to alternate the squad was given much consideration, the changes reflect the quality of the player group.

“Stewart Maguire has been impressive when he has been launched from the bench and Tiernan O’Halloran has returned to the fine form he was displaying prior to sustaining an injury in a warm-up match in December.

“Gareth’s inclusion in the replacements is reward for his performances in the AIB League with Shannon as is that of Risteard Byrne with UCD.

“Planning and preparation has gone well. There is an appetite within the squad to continually develop as individuals and as a team.

“The attention to detail and focus to improve reflect the respect we have for Wales and the squad ambition to build on our performances in the Championship.”

Having beaten a highly-fancied England side 25-10 in Gloucester last time out, Ireland currently top the table on points difference, ahead of England and Wales on four points apiece.

IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Wales U-20, RBS U-20 6 Nations Championship, Dubarry Park, Friday, March 12, kick-off 7.35pm):

15 – Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 – Darren Hudson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
13 – Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 – Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11 – Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht)
10 – James McKinney (Queen’s University/Ulster)
9 – John Cooney (UCD/Leinster)
1 – Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2 – Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 – Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4 – David O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster)
5 – Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster)
6 – Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
7 – Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8 – Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:

16 – Risteard Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
17 – Bryan Cagney (UCC/Munster)
18 – Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 – Robin O’Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster)
20 – Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21 – Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Shannon/Munster)
22 – Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht)