Head coach Michael Hodge has confirmed the Ireland Under-18 Schools squad (sponsored by PwC) which will take part in the U-18 Men's Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France over the Easter break.
Hodge's youngsters will play three matches at the festival, kicking off on Friday against England, followed by clashes with Spain next Tuesday and tournament hosts France on Saturday week.
Of the 26-player group, half-backs Luke Coffey and Charlie O'Connor, who both featured in recent provincial Schools Cup finals for their respective schools, Blackrock College and RBAI, are the only returning players from last year.
Team captain Coffey is the younger brother of Oliver Coffey, the Leinster Academy scrum half, while there are a couple of other notable family links. Leinster and Ireland prop Jack Boyle's teenage sibling, Herbie, is included in the forwards.
Coláiste Éinde lock Dara Walsh, who captained the Ireland U-18 Schools team to a 42-19 warm-up win over Wales, is following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Bryan and current Connacht Academy and Ireland U-20 centre Séan, who have both played age-grade international rugby.
Both Walsh and Harry Heagney, a PwC U-18 Clubs Interprovincial title winner with Leinster, have come through the U-18 Clubs pathway, playing against Italy in November. Phil Lynch and Joshua Grant were involved in the Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools team's recent victory over Scotland.
Four members of PBC Cork's Munster Schools Senior Cup-winning team are included, led by their captain Rian MacFarlane O'Shea, and the newly-crowned Leinster Schools Senior Cup champions, St. Mary's College, are represented by forwards David Kenny and James Whitty.
The U-18 Men's Six Nations Festival is an important development platform for players, along with coaches, support staff, and match officials, to gain valuable experience in an international environment.
Just like last year, the three matchdays will be held at Stade Louis Darragon, the home of RC Vichy. Georgia and Spain have again joined the line-up to make it an eight-team competition. All of Ireland's games will be live on irishrugby+ and the Six Nations U-20 YouTube channel.
Coláiste Éinde lock Dara Walsh, who captained the Ireland U-18 Schools team to a 42-19 warm-up win over Wales, is following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Bryan and current Connacht Academy and Ireland U-20 centre Séan, who have both played age-grade international rugby.
Both Walsh and Harry Heagney, a PwC U-18 Clubs Interprovincial title winner with Leinster, have come through the U-18 Clubs pathway, playing against Italy in November. Phil Lynch and Joshua Grant were involved in the Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools team's recent victory over Scotland.
Four members of PBC Cork's Munster Schools Senior Cup-winning team are included, led by their captain Rian MacFarlane O'Shea, and the newly-crowned Leinster Schools Senior Cup champions, St. Mary's College, are represented by forwards David Kenny and James Whitty.
The U-18 Men's Six Nations Festival is an important development platform for players, along with coaches, support staff, and match officials, to gain valuable experience in an international environment.
Just like last year, the three matchdays will be held at Stade Louis Darragon, the home of RC Vichy. Georgia and Spain have again joined the line-up to make it an eight-team competition. All of Ireland's games will be live on irishrugby+ and the Six Nations U-20 YouTube channel.