A talented 26-player group will travel to the Western Cape for the annual age-grade international tournament, which will see Ireland play the two South Africa Schools teams and Georgia.
Frank Maher and Luke Coffey both return after playing in last year's U-18 Men's International Series, where they helped the team to a thrilling 39-36 victory over South Africa Schools 'A'.
Brendan O'Connor's charges will kick off the 2026 edition against the South African U-18 'A' team at Durbanville High School on Friday, August 7, with the opening match getting underway at 11.30am local time.
Paarl's Boland Landbou School will host the South Africa-Ireland clash on Tuesday, August 11, before the Irish youngsters close out their campaign against Georgia at Stellenberg High School on Saturday, August 15.
Stepping up from his assistant coach role, O'Connor will be supported by fellow coaches Morgan Codyre, Niall Annett, and Johne Murphy, and team manager Stephen O'Hara. All of the games will be streamed live on SuperSport Schools.
Maher, Calum Tutty, David Nolan, and Cillian McElwee are the new additions to the squad after not being involved in April's U-18 Six Nations Festival.
The Easter tournament in Vichy saw Ireland - captained by Blackrock College scrum half Coffey - beat England (36-31) and Spain (38-17) before coming up short in a 43-29 loss to hosts France.
St. Michael's College winger Matthew McCarthy was their top try scorer at the Festival with three tries, followed by Newbridge College's Luke Kelly and Alex Moloney, from PBC Cork, with two each.
Coffey is fresh from earning a call-up to play for the Ireland Under-20s at the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia, where he came off the bench against the USA and Italy.
The contingent of forwards includes Rian Macfarlane O'Shea, who captained Pres to Munster Schools Senior Cup glory earlier this year, Ulster props Alex Stinson and Lewis Robinson, and Dara Walsh, Connacht's U-18 Men's Player of the Year.
Wayne Mitchell, the IRFU's National NTS and Talent Identification Manager, commented: "We are delighted to return to South Africa with our Ireland U-18 Schools squad.
"Over the past few seasons, we have expanded the U-18 national programme, giving us the opportunity to see and work with a greater number of players throughout the season.
"It has also allowed our players, coaches, and support staff to experience different environments and styles of play, while helping them build connections and gain a better understanding of the demands of representing Ireland.
"This tour provides another valuable opportunity to work closely with these players on a daily basis in a different environment.
"Getting to know them better as individuals is invaluable as we continue to make informed decisions for the future."
IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS SQUAD (2026 Under-18 Men's International Series, Western Cape, South Africa, August 2-17, 2026):
Alex Moloney (Presentation Brothers College, Cork/Munster Rugby)
Alex Stinson (Royal School Armagh/Ulster Rugby)
Calum Tutty (St. Augustine's College/Dungarvan RFC/Munster Rugby)
Cillian McElwee (St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny/Kilkenny RFC/Leinster Rugby)
Daniel Murphy (Presentation Brothers College, Cork/Munster Rugby)
Dara Walsh (Coláiste Éinde/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht Rugby)
David Kenny (St. Mary's College/Leinster Rugby)
David Nolan (Presentation Brothers College, Cork/Munster Rugby)
Finn Brennan (Kilkenny College/Leinster Rugby)
Frank Maher (Terenure College/Leinster Rugby)
Harry Heagney (Glenstal Abbey School/Clontarf FC/Munster Rugby)
Herbie Boyle (St. Michael's College/Leinster Rugby)
James Whitty (St. Mary's College/Leinster Rugby)
Johnny Woods (Wesley College/Leinster Rugby)
Joshua Grant (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster Rugby)
Lewis Robinson (Regent House School/Ulster Rugby)
Luke Coffey (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Luke Kelly (Newbridge College/Leinster Rugby)
Matthew McCarthy (St. Michael's College/Leinster Rugby)
Michael Smyth (Terenure College/Leinster Rugby)
Paddy Scally (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Philip Lynch (St. Michael's College/Leinster Rugby)
Rhys Keogh (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Rian Macfarlane O'Shea (Presentation Brothers College, Cork/Munster Rugby)
Ryan McCormack (Ardscoil Rís Limerick/Munster Rugby)
Xabi Scanlan (Castletroy College/Munster Rugby)
IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT TEAM -
- Brendan O'Connor – Head Coach
- Morgan Codyre – Assistant Coach
- Niall Annett – Assistant Coach
- Johne Murphy – Assistant Coach
- Stephen O'Hara – Team Manager
- Prof. John Ryan – Team Doctor
- David Lyons – Team Physio
- Mark Synott – Athletic Development Coach
- Alan Doonan – Team Analyst
- Niall Davison – Performance Nutritionist
- Tom Nyhan – Team Logistics
2026 UNDER-18 MEN'S INTERNATIONAL SERIES FIXTURES:
Friday, August 7 - Durbanville High School, Cape Town
11.30am: South Africa U-18 'A' v Ireland U-18 Schools
1.30pm: Georgia U-18s v England U-18s
3.30pm: South Africa U-18s v France U-18s
Tuesday, August 11 - Boland Landbou, Paarl
11.30am: South Africa U-18 'A' v Georgia U-18s
1.30pm: England U-18s v France U-18s
3.30pm: South Africa U-18s v Ireland U-18 Schools
Saturday, August 15 - Stellenberg High School, Cape Town
11.30am: France U-18s v South Africa U-18 'A'
1.30pm: Ireland U-18 Schools v Georgia U-18s
3.30pm: South Africa U-18s v England U-18s