Ireland U19 Team

The Ireland U19 team, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, begins its preparations for this year’s IRB U19 World Championship with a game against Wales in Stradey Park this Friday night.

  The U19 World Championship, the third largest tournament in international rugby, kicks off in Belfast on April 4^th and will bring together the cream of young talent from around the world to Ireland.

Ireland U19 Coach Charlie McAleese said:  “This year is a big one for Irish U19 rugby with the World Cup taking place in Belfast.  All of the squad are keen to impress and stake their claim for a place in the squad for the tournament and this game against Wales gives them that opportunity“.

“While we take great encouragement by the performances of the U20 side in the last two games of their 6 Nations Championship, Wales will again be tough opponents as they are always strong at this level.

The side will be captained by Paul Ryan of Blackrock College RFC.

The Ireland Under 19 team to play Wales Under 19 in Stradey Park, Llanelli, Wales on Friday, 16^th February 2007 at 19.15hrs is as follows:

Player                                  Club/Province

15 – Adam Craig                        Instonians/Ulster/Ulster

14 – Chris Cochrane                 Coleraine Academical Institute/Ulster

13 – Jamie Smith                         Ballymena/Ulster

12 – Murray Kinsella                  Newtown School/Munster

11 – Niall Morris                         Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

10 – Eoin O’Malley                     UCD /Leinster

9 – Dave Moore                          Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

1 – Paul Karayiannis                  RBAI/Ulster

2 – Stephen Douglas                  Ballymena/Ulster

3 – Matthew Nelson                   Ballynahinch/Ulster

4 – Brian Cawley                          UCD/Leinster

5 – Ian Nagle                               Glenstal Abbey/Munster

6 – Kieran Essex                          CBC Cork/Munster

7 – Michael Entwistle                 Ballymena /Ulster

8 – Paul Ryan (Captain)              Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

 

Replacements:

16 – Paddy McCabe                    Dublin University/Leinster

17 – Stephen Archer                   UCC /Munster

18 – Michael Sherry                    Ard Scoil Rís/Munster

19 – David Foley                          UL Bohemians /Munster

20 – John Downey                      Presentation College Bray/Leinster

21 – David Johnston                   Belfast Harlequins /Ulster

22 – Kris Greene                           St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster

23 – Mark Geraghty                    Greystones RFC/Leinster

24 – Tommy Seymour                Down High School/Ulster

25 – William Stewart                  QUB/Ulster

26 – Matthew O’Regan                Northampton Saints/Exiles

 

Coach – Charlie McAleese

Manager – Gerard Slattery

Assistant Coach – Bobby Byrne

Defence coach – Kurt McQuilkan

Physiotherapist – Shane Collins

Physiotherapist – Josh Hoopes

Doctor – Tim O’Flanagan

Fitness Advisor – Ray Egan

Technical Advisor – Derek Suffern