Under-19 Squad: Forwards Profiles

..The Irish Under-19 team huddle before December’s clash with Australia Schools at Ravenhill…

IRELAND UNDER-19 SQUAD: FORWARDS:

PROPS –

James Gethings (Gonzaga College)

Born: 25/11/1987

Height: 6ft 2in/188cm; Weight: 15st 13lbs/101kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Argentina (sub)

*A member of the Leinster Under-19 Schools team that beat Munster 19-13 in November. Is the youngest member of the Irish squad in Dubai.

*Played in the Gonzaga team that got to the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals this season.

*Helped Gonzaga win the 2004/05 Leinster Schools Senior League title, scoring a try in the final against St. Gerard’s.

Cian Healy (Belvedere College)

Born: 7/10/1987

Height: 6ft 1in/185cm; Weight: 16st 5lbs/104kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Samoa, v Argentina

*A member of the Belvedere team that won the 2004/05 Leinster Schools Senior Cup, and lost this year’s final to Blackrock. Can play at hooker also.

*A talented sportsman who has excelled in schools athletics – participating in javelin, hammer and the shot putt.

*Lined out in the Ireland Schools side that beat France twelve months ago for a second Triple Crown in three seasons. A member of the Leinster U-19 Schools squad this season.

*IRFU Development manager John Murphy said of Healy: “His main strength is his dynamism. For a front row forward, he’s very mobile and has cracking skills. He’s also a strong scrummager and has shown particular promise in the gym.”

Ruaidhri Murphy (Castleknock College)

Born: 5/7/1987

Height: 6ft 2in/187cm; Weight: 18st 4lbs/116kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England (sub), v France (sub), v Samoa (try), v Argentina (sub)

*Arklow-born, Murphy was involved with the Leinster Under-19 Schools squad this season.

*A powerful scrummager, he helped Castleknock get through to the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup in 2006.

*He scored four tries for his school this season – one each against Monkstown, Blackrock, Ard Scoil Ris and Rockwell. Murphy is Ireland’s heaviest player at the tournament at 18st 4lbs.

Richard Sweeney (University College Dublin)

Born: 12/9/1987

Height: 6ft 2in/189cm; Weight: 16st 12lbs/107kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v Argentina (sub)

*Is on a sports scholarship with UCD. Hails from Dublin and attended St. Mary’s College.

*Can play loosehead or tighthead – was in the number 1 jersey for February’s 31-6 defeat to Wales at Stradbrook.

*Won the Leinster Under-20 League title with UCD in February – ‘College’s fourth league in a row. Sweeney was also capped at Under-18 level for Ireland last year.

HOOKERS –

David Gilchrist (University College Dublin)

Born: 14/2/1987

Height: 6ft 1in/185cm; Weight: 15st 4lbs/97kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v Samoa

*Is on a sports scholarship at UCD. Hails from Dublin.

*Was a lineout-throwing number 8 – Cian Healy was hooker – on the Belvedere College team that won last year’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

*Won the Leinster Under-20 League with UCD in February – also started the recent internationals against Wales and England.

Gerard Slattery (St. Munchin’s College)

Born: 4/11/1987

Height: 5ft 8in/172cm; Weight: 14st 9lbs/93kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Samoa (sub), v Argentina (try)

*Captained St. Munchin’s College to the Munster Schools Senior Cup title in March – converting Keith Earls’ try for a 7-3 win over PBC. It was the Corbally school’s third senior triumph in five seasons.

*Skippered the Ireland Under-19 ‘A’ team against Australia Schools in December, scoring a try in the 51-18 defeat.

*His assured throwing helped Ireland win 11 of their 12 lineout throws and pinch two of England’s in the sides’ Under-19 World Championship opener.

…Versatile front rower Cian Healy…

LOCKS –

Andrew Browne (Galwegians RFC)

Born: 21/1/1987

Height: 6ft 5in/196cm; Weight: 15st 4lbs/97kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England (sub), v France, v Samoa, v Argentina (sub)

*Browne in the second row for the Ireland Under-19 ‘A’ team against Australia Schools in December. Started against for the Irish Under-19s against Wales in February’s loss at Stradbrook, and came on as a substitute in the St. Patrick’s Day defeat to England at the Twickenham Stoop.

*Played for the Connacht Under-19s in the autumn Interprovincials.

*A member of the Galwegians Youth Academy, under the leadership of John Gaffney. Browne is the joint-tallest player in the Irish squad in Dubai, along with Castleknock’s Thomas Walsh.

Jonathan Graham (Ballynahinch RFC)

Born: 23/1/1987

Height: 6ft 4in/194cm; Weight: 15st 2lbs/96kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v Samoa (sub)

*Has been a regular member of the Ballynahinch team in AIB League Division Two this season, playing at lock, flanker and number 8.

*Played for and captained the Ulster Under-19 squad this season – scored a try in the 20-8 win over Munster in September, helping Ulster to finish second in the inaugural IRFU U-19 Championship.

*Won the Ulster Schools Senior Cup with Royal School Armagh in 2004.

Conor McInerney (University College Dublin)

Born: 19/1/1987

Height: 6ft 4in/193cm; Weight: 16st 5lbs/104kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France (try), v Samoa, v Argentina

*Dublin-born, the former St. Mary’s College schoolboy was awarded a sports scholarship by UCD for 2005/06. McInerney was at lock alongside Thomas Anderson in the Ireland Schools side that won the Triple Crown twelve months ago.

*Was one of only six players to start both of the Irish Under-19s’ internationals against Wales (February) and England (March). Captained the side in both games.

*Oldest member of the Irish squad in Dubai. Former captain of the Leinster Schools team. Won the Leinster Under-20 League with UCD in February.

Thomas Walsh (Castleknock College)

Born: 20/9/1987

Height: 6ft 5in/196cm; Weight: 15st 13lbs/101kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v France (sub), v Samoa (sub), v Argentina (sub)

*Was a member of the Leinster Under-19 Schools squad this season. Walsh played for the Irish U-19s against Australia Schools in December.

*Can play at lock, flanker and number 8 – was at the base of the scrum for Castleknock’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup campaign. Scored a try in the first round win over CBC Monkstown.

*Also scored tries for Castleknock this season against Methody College Belfast and Crescent College.

…Thomas Anderson claims a lineout…

BACK ROWS –

Thomas Anderson (Queen’s University Belfast)

Born: 3/3/1987

Height: 6ft 4in/193cm; Weight: 15st 4lbs/97kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v Argentina

*Former student at Rainey Endowed – was a member of the Ulster Under-19 squad this season. Was one of six players to start for Ireland in both of the spring internationals against Wales and England.

*Won the Triple Crown with the Irish Schools side last season, playing at lock in the deciding 9-3 win over France. Anderson is a Sports Insitutute of Northern Ireland athlete.

*Is the son of former Ireland captain Willie Anderson. Is on a gold scholarship at the Queen’s University Rugby Academy.

Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemian RFC)

Born: 21/5/1987

Height: 6ft 1in/186cm; Weight: 15st 10lbs/100kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Samoa, v Argentina

*Plays at number 8 for the UL Bohemians Under-20 side. O’Donnell is from Cahir, County Tipperary and is in his first year at the University of Limerick.

*Has earned caps for the Munster and Ireland Youths, Ireland Under-18s and Munster Under-19s. He captained the Munster U-19s this season.

*Formerly of Clanwilliam RFC, O’Donnell is in Level One of the Munster Academy.

David Pollock (Queen’s University Belfast)

Born: 19/3/1987

Height: 6ft 1in/186cm; Weight: 16st 1lb/102kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Samoa, v Argentina

*Has captained the Ulster and Ireland Schools sides. Former Royal School Dungannon pupil, Pollock is currently studying at Queen’s University on a gold scholarship at the Rugby Academy.

*Despite being only 18, Pollock skippered the Ulster U-21s during the autumn Interprovincial series, and has also been included in Ulster ‘A’ squads.

*Was voted last season’s Ulster Schools Player of the Year. Is a Sports Institute of Northern Ireland athlete. Pollock was one of six players to start both of Ireland’s recent internationals against Wales and England.

Kevin Sheahan (University College Dublin)

Born: 12/5/1987

Height: 6ft 2in/188cm; Weight: 15st 2lbs/96kg

Caps – IRB U-19 WC – v England, v France, v Samoa, v Argentina

*Is on a sports scholarship at UCD. Hails from Dublin and is a former pupil of St. Michael’s College.

*Was one of six players to start both of the spring internationals against Wales and England. Also lined out at openside flanker against Australia Schools in December.

*Helped UCD to a fourth Leinster Under-20 League title in a row in February.