Ireland U-18 Clubs Team Unchanged For France Game

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs team to face France in their final match of the campaign on Saturday is unchanged from last weekend’s 30-15 victory over England at Ashbourne RFC.

Tries from Kieran Treadwell, Lorcan Dow, Conor O’Brien and Anthony McGivney, allied to 10 points from the boot of captain James Nolan, guided Ireland to a deserved 30-15 win over England last Saturday.

Unsurprisingly, coaches Wayne Mitchell, Colm McMahon and Jamie Turkington have kept faith with the side that secured that impressive result just a week ago.

Right winger McGivney will be hunting for more tries after touching down against Italy and England in recent weeks, while Exiles talent Sam Arnold continues in the centre alongside influential skipper Nolan.

The solid half-back pairing of Conor O’Brien and Jack Cullen gets another outing, while Wicklow’s Jack McKenna, who was a key cog in a strong lineout performance against the English, scrums down at hooker.

Ireland can rely on the powerful second row partnership of Treadwell and Colm Joyce-Ahearne, with the retained back row all showing good form in the last outing – try-scoring number 8 Dow in particular.

Highfield’s Dylan Horgan has claimed one of the backs spots on the replacements bench, taking over from Cathal Evans who was a recent starter against Scotland.

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS Team & Replacements (v France Under-18s, Under-18 International Match, Stade Jules Ladoumègue, Massy, Saturday, April 6, kick-off 2.30pm local time/1.30pm Irish time):

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. Dylan Horgan (Highfield)

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 30 England 15, Ashbourne RFC
Saturday, April 6 – Ireland v France, Stade Jules Ladoumègue, Massy