Ireland Under-19 Team Announced For Second France Match
The Ireland Under-19s (sponsored by PwC) wrap up their two-match series against France at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm), with head coach Tom Tierney making four personnel changes and a positional switch.
Ballymena’s Angus Kernohan, the scorer of Ireland’s fifth and final try during Tuesday’s 46-17 win over the French, is promoted from the bench to start on the left wing. IQ Rugby’s Iwan Hughes makes way, while Ben Healy of Glenstal Abbey gets the nod at number 10.
PBC Cork hooker Billy Scannell returns to the front row for his second start, flanked by Cistercian College Roscrea props Josh Wycherley and Michael Milne. Scannell and Wycherley both have brothers who have played for Munster this season – Niall and Rory Scannell, and 20-year-old second row Fineen Wycherley.
Michael McGagh, who recently won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup title with Blackrock College, will make his Ireland Under-19 debut at blindside flanker, joining Scott Penny and captain Azur Allison in an athletic back row.
Roscrea’s Luke Clohessy reverts to the second row, alongside the 6ft 7in Charlie Ryan who made three appearances for Ireland during this season’s Under-20 Six Nations Championship. Winger Kernohan, who also featured regularly during that tournament, has five U-20 caps so far.
IRELAND UNDER-19 Team & Replacements (v France Under-19s, Under-19 International Match, the Sportsground, Saturday, April 7, kick-off 2.30pm):
15. James McCarthy (UL Bohemians)
14. Conor Phillips (Crescent CC)
13. Sean French (PBC Cork)
12. Stewart Moore (Ballymena Academy)
11. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena)
10. Ben Healy (Glenstal Abbey)
9. Caolan Englefield (Harlequins/St. Paul’s CS/IQ Rugby)
1. Josh Wycherley (CC Roscrea)
2. Billy Scannell (PBC Cork)
3. Michael Milne (CC Roscrea)
4. Charlie Ryan (UCD)
5. Luke Clohessy (CC Roscrea)
6. Michael McGagh (Blackrock College)
7. Scott Penny (St. Michael’s College)
8. Azur Allison (Ballymena) (capt)
Replacements:
16. Claytan Milligan (Ballynahinch)
17. Donnacha Mescal (Blackrock College)
18. Paul McGookin (Ballyclare)
19. Martin Moloney (Athy)
20. Ciaran Booth (Sale Sharks/St. Ambrose College/IQ Rugby)
21. Cormac Foley (St. Gerard’s School)
22. Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy)
23. Liam Turner (Blackrock College)
24. Jamie Macartney (Campbell College)
25. Ruadhan Byron (Belvedere College)
26. Iwan Hughes (Bristol/IQ Rugby)
IRELAND UNDER-19 FIXTURES/RESULTS:
IRELAND U-19s 40 JAPAN U-19s 29
Saturday, March 24, Donnybrook
IRELAND U-19s 24 JAPAN U-19s 40
Wednesday, March 28, Donnybrook
IRELAND U-19s 46 FRANCE U-19s 17
Tuesday, April 3, the Sportsground
IRELAND U-19s v FRANCE U-19s
Saturday, April 7, 2.30pm, the Sportsground