Ireland U-18 Clubs Team Finalised For French Test
Head coach Wayne Mitchell has confirmed the starting line-up for the Ireland Under-18 Clubs squad’s opening match of the Three Nations tournament at the French National Rugby Centre in Marcoussis, Paris.
The Ireland Under-18 Clubs selection, sponsored by PwC, open the tournament against host nation France on Saturday afternoon, before playing England next Wednesday.
For the French game there are five personnel changes to the Irish team that enjoyed a 26-9 win away to Italy in mid-February.
Conor O’Brien, who was capped last year, returns at outside centre with his Mullingar club-mate Ronan Wallace reverting to full-back and Ciaran Frawley dropping to the bench.
Bristol’s Josh Daly and Peter Howard of Cill Dara are the other new inclusions in the back-line, joining O’Brien in the back-three.
Hooker Adam McBurney and tighthead prop Ben Betts also earn starts in the front row. The rest of the pack is unchanged with Ardee’s Neil Reilly captaining Ireland from number 8.
Head coach Wayne Mitchell is joined in the management team by Jamie Turkington (backs coach), Brendan O’Connor (forwards coach), Seamus Twomey (scrum coach) and team manager Tom Nyhan.
IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS Team & Replacements (v France, Three Nations Tournament, Marcoussis, Paris, Saturday, April 12, kick-off 3pm local time/2pm Irish time):
15. Ronan Wallace (Mullingar RFC/Leinster)
14. Josh Daly (Bristol RFC/Exile)
13. Conor O’Brien (Mullingar RFC/Leinster)
12. Kieran Joyce (Silhillians RFC/Exile)
11. Peter Howard (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)
10. Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcon/Exile)
9. Andrew Feeney (Suttonians RFC/Leinster)
1. Philip Poillot (Clonakilty RFC/Munster)
2. Adam McBurney (Randalstown RFC/Ulster)
3. Ben Betts (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
4. Hugh Sloan (Bath RFC/Exile)
5. Sean O’Leary (Midleton RFC/Munster)
6. Matthew Cosgrove (Sligo RFC/Connacht)
7. Conor Farrell (Navan RFC/Leinster)
8. Neil Reilly (Ardee RFC/Leinster) (capt)
Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy (Dundalk RFC/Leinster)
17. Vakhtang Abdaladze (Coolmine RFC/Leinster)
18. Jake Byrne (Northampton Saints/Exile)
19. Josh Barnes (Tralee RFC/Munster)
20. Conor Hand (Navan RFC/Leinster)
21. Cameron Fulton (Coleraine RFC/Ulster)
22. Brian Fanning (Bruff RFC/Munster)
23. Joe White (Clonakilty RFC/Munster)
24. Ciaran Frawley (Skerries RFC/Leinster)
Management Team –
Wayne Mitchell – Head Coach
Tom Nyhan – Team Manager
Jamie Turkington – Backs Coach
Brendan O’Connor – Forwards Coach
Seamus Twomey – Scrum Coach
Adam Sheehan – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Damien Mordon – Physiotherapist
Padraig Sheeran – Team Doctor
Ross Martin – Video Analyst
Mo Dempsey – Baggage Master
U-18 THREE NATIONS TOURNAMENT FIXTURES:
France v IRELAND U-18 CLUBS XV
Saturday, April 12
Marcoussis, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time
IRELAND U-18 CLUBS XV v England
Wednesday, April 16
Marcoussis, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time