Ireland U-18 Clubs Team Named For Tournament Opener

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs team and replacements (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers) to play Germany in the opening game of the FIRA-AER U-18 Tournament in Treviso on Sunday has been named.

Ireland Under-18 Clubs team coach Greg Lynch has included Buccaneers youngster Jack Carty, who played in the tournament last year, at out-half. He will be partnered at half-back by Jack Walsh from the Exiles U-18s.

Up front, Alan O’Connor of Skerries will captain the team from the second row, where he is joined by Monivea’s Conor Kindregan.

The back row features two Navan players in Akhlaque Khan and Conor Ryan with Wicklow’s Daniel Mannion completing an all-Leinster trio.

The winners of Sunday’s Group A game progress to a semi-final against either Romania or Georgia.

The Ireland U-18 Clubs side has reached the finals in two of the last three seasons and finished third overall last year.

Click here to listen to a preview interview with team manager Willie Gribben.

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS Team & Replacements (v Germany Under-18s, FIRA-AER U-18 European Championship Group A, San Dona, Treviso, Sunday, March 28, kick-off 5pm local time (4pm Irish time): 

15. Shane Layden (Cistercian Coll. Roscrea – Connacht)
14. Ferdia Kenny (Presentation Bray/Greystones – Leinster)
13. Thomas Daly (Carlow – Leinster)
12. Christopher Farrell (Clogher Valley – Ulster)
11. Joe Keane (UL Bohemians – Munster)
10. Jack Carty (Buccaneers – Connacht)
9. Jack Walsh (London Wasps – Exiles)
1. Tom Margetson (Wellington College – Exiles)
2. Christopher Tonge (Skerries – Leinster)
3. Jake Considine (Young Munster – Munster)
4. Conor Kindregan (Monivea – Connacht)
5. Alan O’Connor (Skerries – Leinster) (capt)
6. Daniel Mannion (Wicklow – Leinster)
7. Akhlaque Khan (Navan – Leinster)
8. Conor Ryan (Navan – Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Tadhg Furlong (New Ross – Leinster)
17. Kieran Ball (Wellington College/Saracens – Exiles)
18. Jonathan Murphy (Banbridge – Ulster)
19. Eoghan Masterson (Portlaoise – Leinster)
20. Charles Gallagher (Banbridge – Ulster)
21. Conor Clancy (Stoneyhurst College/London Irish – Exiles)
22. Kieran Marmion (Kirkham GS – Exiles)
23. Grant Connon (Newcastle Falcons – Exiles)
24. Michael Sherlock (Skerries – Leinster)
25. Callum Boland (Buccaneers – Connacht)
26. Cian McGovern (Crosshaven – Munster)