Jump to main content

Menu

Ireland Under-18 Clubs Team Named

Ireland Under-18 Clubs Team Named

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs team for their latest fixture has been announced, with head coach Wayne Mitchell making four personnel changes and three positional switches to the side that lost 25-0 to Scotland recently.

The Ireland youngsters, captained once again by Gorey centre James Nolan, will take on the England Under-18 Clubs and Schools team at Ashbourne RFC on Easter Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Conor O’Brien, who impressed as a replacement against the Scots, will don the number 10 jersey as he did for last month’s 16-all draw with Italy at the County Meath venue.

Google Ad Manager – 300×250 – In Article


Sean O’Hagan moves from out-half to replace Cathal Evans at full-back, with Harlequins’ Sam Arnold, one of five Exiles players in the starting line-up, slotting in at outside centre alongside skipper Nolan.

Interestingly, Arnold’s Cranleigh school-mate Charlie Piper will be lining out at hooker for the English side this weekend.

Galwegians clubman Conor Kyne comes back into the Irish front row at loosehead prop with Brendan Quinlan from Clanwilliam positioned on the tighthead side of the scrum.

Wexford’s Colm Joyce-Ahearne moves into the second row where he links up with Kieran Treadwell, with Joyce-Ahearne’s position in the back row filled by Andrew Purcell from Mullingar.

Saturday’s match, which was originally due to take place at Coolmine RFC, has been moved to Ashbourne instead.

It is the third game of four fixtures for the young Ireland squad which is coached by Wayne Mitchell, Colm McMahon and Jamie Turkington. They wrap up the campaign by hosting France next week.

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS Team & Replacements (v England Under-18 Clubs & Schools, Under-18 International Match, Ashbourne RFC, Saturday, March 30, kick-off 2pm):

15. Sean O’Hagan (London Irish/Exile)
14. Anthony McGivney (Mullingar)
13. Sam Arnold (Harlequins/Exile)
12. James Nolan (Gorey) (capt)
11. Robert Vallejo (New Ross)
10. Conor O’Brien (Mullingar)
9. Jack Cullen (Saracens/Exile)
1. Conor Kyne (Galwegians)
2. Jack McKenna (Wicklow)
3. Brendan Quinlan (Clanwilliam)
4. Colm Joyce-Ahearne (Wexford)
5. Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins/Exile)
6. Andrew Purcell (Mullingar)
7. Conor Oliver (Skerries)
8. Lorcan Dow (London Irish/Exile)

Replacements:

16. Niall Hannon (Mullingar)
17. Liam Walshe (Wicklow)
18. Harry Hester (Navan)
19. Aaron Hogan (Youghal)
20. Idrs Rqibi (Skibbereen)
21. Joey Carberry (Athy)
22. Sean Moran (Kilkenny)
23. Cathal Evans (Corinthians)

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS TEAM FIXTURES/RESULTS:

Saturday, February 23 – Ireland 16 Italy 16, Ashbourne RFC
Sunday, March 10 – Scotland 25 Ireland 0, Hamilton RFC
Saturday, March 30 – Ireland v England, Ashbourne RFC
Saturday, April 6 – Ireland v France, venue tbc