Ireland Club Team Named For Historic Aviva Encounter

Tickets for the game are available from ticketmaster.ie, while supporters attending the RBS 6 Nations game beforehand are encouraged to stay on and enjoy the cream of Irish club rugby in action.

Head coach Paul Cunningham has made a number of changes to the team that lost narrowly away to Scotland last weekend.

Kevin McGrath of Skerries starts on the left wing with Blackrock’s Sean Coughlan drafted in on the right wing.

Angus Lloyd from Dublin University starts at scrum half. The experienced Gerry Hurley, who was a late withdrawal last week, is among the replacements and his Cork Constitution club-mate Ger Sweeney starts in the front row.

The Ireland Club team will wear their club socks for the match, marking the contribution that club rugby has made to the game in Ireland.

IRELAND CLUB XV Team & Replacements (v France Clubs, Ulster Bank Club International, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, February 14, kick-off 8pm):

15. Daniel Riordan (Old Belvedere)
14. Sean Coughlan (Blackrock College)           
13. Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
12. Matt D’Arcy (Clontarf) (capt)
11. Kevin McGrath (Skerries)
10. Darragh Lyons (Cork Constitution)
9. Angus Lloyd (Dublin University)
1. Ian Prendiville (Lansdowne)
2. Andrew O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution)
3. Ger Sweeney (Cork Constitution)
4. Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne)
5. Fergal Walsh (Terenure College)
6. Stephen Mulholland (Ballymena)
7. Paul Pritchard (Ballynahinch)
8. Jonathan Slattery (Old Belvedere)

Replacements:

16. Eddie Rossiter (Garryowen)
17. Adam Boland (Lansdowne)
18. Peter O’Shea (Garryowen)
19. Connor Smyth (Ballymena)
20. Sean Walsh (Cashel)   
21. Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution)
22. Stephen Murphy (UCD)
23. Stephen O’Neill (Terenure College)