Easter Schedule Confirmed For Ireland U-18 And U-19 Teams
IQ Rugby centre Hayden Hyde is pictured in action for the Ireland Under-19s against Australia at Energia Park in December ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry
The traditional Easter window of fixtures for the Ireland Under-18 and Under-19 teams has been confirmed with three teams in action over the period.
The Ireland Under-18 Schools side will travel to England for the annual Under-18 Six Nations Festival. Peter Smyth’s squad will face France in Hartpury on Saturday week (April 13), hosts England at Sixways Stadium on Wednesday, April 17, and will finish the festival at Kingsholm Stadium on Easter Sunday (April 21) against Scotland.
Head coach Smyth, who is in his second season at the helm, will be assisted by Mossy Lawler and Colm McMahon. The Under-18 Six Nations Festival will be broadcast live on Free Sports, which is available in Ireland on the Sky platform.
Wayne Mitchell will coach the Ireland Under-18 Clubs & Schools squad who have their traditional two games against the England U-18 Counties side, the first at Energia Park on Wednesday, April 24 and the second at Ashbourne RFC on Saturday, April 27. Mitchell’s assistant coaches are Simon Broughton and Jamie Cornett.
The Ireland Under-19s travel to Corsica for a two-match series against the France U-20 Development team on Tuesday, April 16 and on Easter Saturday (April 20). The Under-19 coaching ticket sees former international Tom Tierney as head coach with Mark Butler and Colm Tucker as his assistants.
The players will attend a final training camp this weekend and the squads will be announced early next week. News, reports and reaction will be available on irishrugby.ie.
IRELAND UNDERAGE FIXTURES – EASTER INTERNATIONALS:
UNDER-18 SIX NATIONS FESTIVAL:
Ireland Under-18 Schools v France Under-18s, Hartpury College, Gloucester, Saturday, April 13, 2.40pm
England Under-18s v Ireland Under-18 Schools, Sixways Stadium, Worcester, Wednesday, April 17, 1.40pm
Ireland Under-18 Schools v Scotland Under-18s, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Sunday, April 21, 11.10am
IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS & SCHOOLS XV:
Ireland Under-18 Clubs & Schools v England Under-18 Counties, Energia Park, Wednesday, April 24, 2.30pm
Ireland Under-18 Clubs & Schools v England Under-18 Counties, Ashbourne RFC, Saturday, April 27, 2pm
IRELAND UNDER-19s:
France Under-20 Development v Ireland Under-19s, Stade Municipal, Lumio, Corsica, Tuesday, April 16, 6pm local time/5pm Irish time
France Under-20 Development v Ireland Under-19s, Stade Armand-Cesari, Bastia, Corsica, Saturday, April 20, 8pm local time/7pm Irish time