Ireland Under-19 Team Named For Opening Game Against Japan
The Ireland Under-19 team, sponsored by PwC, for their opening game against their Japanese counterparts at Donnybrook on Saturday (kick-off 12pm) has been announced by head coach Tom Tierney.
Azur Allison, who has impressed with Ballymena in the Ulster Bank League this season, will captain the Ireland Under-19s from number 8, with flankers Luke Clohessy and Scott Penny completing the back row.
UCD’s Charlie Ryan, who was capped for the Ireland U-20s during the Six Nations, is partnered by Ryan Baird in the second row. Prop Josh Wycherley’s brother Fineen lined out for last year’s Ireland U-20s, while hooker Billy Scannell is the younger brother of Munster and Ireland’s Rory and Niall Scannell, with Cistercian College Roscrea tighthead Michael Milne completing the scrum.
In the backs, Cormac Foley from St. Gerard’s starts at scrum half with Bruce Houston – last season’s Ireland Under-18 Clubs & Schools captain – at number 10. Stewart Moore and Sean French form an exciting centre partnership and Munster Academy member James McCarthy, who scored three tries for the Ireland U-20s in recent weeks, lines out on one wing, with Conor Phillips and Jonathan Wren making it an all-Munster back-three.
The Ireland Under-19 management team this season consists of head coach Tom Tierney, assistant coaches Colm McMahon and Bryan Young, and team manager Barney McGonigle.
Saturday afternoon’s game at Donnybrook is the first of two matches between the Ireland and Japan Under-19 squads, with the second fixture set for next Wednesday at the same venue. Tierney’s side will then play two matches against France at the Sportsground in Galway on Tuesday, April 3 and Saturday, April 7.
IRELAND UNDER-19 Team & Replacements (v Japan Under-19s, Under-19 International Match, Donnybrook, Saturday, March 24, kick-off 12pm):
15. Jonathan Wren (PBC Cork)
14. Conor Phillips (Crescent CC)
13. Sean French (PBC Cork)
12. Stewart Moore (Ballymena Academy)
11. James McCarthy (UL Bohemians)
10. Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy)
9. Cormac Foley (St. Gerard’s School)
1. Josh Wycherley (CC Roscrea)
2. Billy Scannell (PBC Cork)
3. Michael Milne (CC Roscrea)
4. Charlie Ryan (UCD)
5. Ryan Baird (St. Michael’s College)
6. Luke Clohessy (CC Roscrea)
7. Scott Penny (St. Michael’s College)
8. Azur Allison (Ballymena) (capt)
Replacements:
16. Dylan Tierney (Corinthians)
17. Shay O’Malley (Hartpury College/IQ Rugby)
18. Ryan Lomas (CC Roscrea)
19. Neal Moylett (CC Roscrea)
20. Jamie Macartney (Campbell College)
21. Caolan Englefield (Harlequins/St. Paul’s CS/IQ Rugby)
22. Jake Flannery (Rockwell College)
23. Hugh Lane (Galwegians/Presentation College Athenry)
24. Mark Fleming (Glenstal Abbey)
25. Iwan Hughes (Bristol/IQ Rugby)
IRELAND UNDER-19 FIXTURES:
IRELAND U-19s v JAPAN U-19s
Saturday, March 24, 12pm, Donnybrook
IRELAND U-19s v JAPAN U-19s
Wednesday, March 28, 2pm, Donnybrook
IRELAND U-19s v FRANCE U-19s
Tuesday, April 3, 5pm, the Sportsground
IRELAND U-19s v FRANCE U-19s
Saturday, April 7, 2.30pm, the Sportsground