Ireland Under-20 Team Announcement

The Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers) to play Italy in the opening game of the RBS Under-20 6 Nations championship has been named.

Ireland Under-20 coach Eric Elwood has named his team for this year’s RBS U-20 6 Nations championship opener against Italy.

There are no survivors from last year’s Under-20 Grand Slam-winning side as the Elwood and Dan McFarland coaching ticket start with a fresh group of players for Friday’s clash at Dubarry Park (live on RTE 2 at 7.35pm).

The side will be captained by open side Paul Ryan, who also skippered the Ireland team during the IRB Under-19 World Cup that was held in Belfast last year.

Commenting on this weekend’s game, Elwood said: “The continuing cycle of underage rugby has meant that this year’s squad are all totally new to this level, but they have pulled together extremely well over the last number of weeks in our camps and practice games. 

“Playing Italy at any level offers a real physical challenge and this Friday will be no different.  We have ability across the team, but our first goal is to gain a foothold in the game in the physical stakes and then progress from there.

“Playing at Dubarry Park and starting the championship there is another big plus for us with the great support we always receive in Athlone,” he added.

IRELAND UNDER-20 TEAM AND REPLACEMENTS (v Italy, RBS U-20 6 Nations, Friday, February 1, Dubarry Park, kick-off 7.35pm):

Player                                     Club/Province                                               

15 – Niall Morris                         Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

14 – David Kearney                    Lansdowne/Leinster

13 – Eoin O’Malley                     Old Belvedere/Leinster

12 – Eamonn Sheridan                Lansdowne/Leinster

11 – Chris Cochrane                   Queens University/Ulster

10 – Martin Dufficy                     Dublin University/Leinster

9 – David Moore                        Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

1 – Paul Karayiannis                   Queen’s University/Ulster

2 – Stephen Douglas                   Ballymena/Ulster

3 – Ben Barclay                          UCD/Leinster

4 – David Nolan                         Galwegians/Connacht

5 – Eoin Sheriff                          Lansdowne/Leinster

6 – Kieran Essex                      UL Bohemians/Munster

7 – Paul Ryan                            Blackrock College RFC/Leinster (capt)

8 – Patrick Mallon                      Lansdowne/Leinster

Replacements: 

16 – Jason Harris-Wright            Greystones/Leinster

17 – Stephen Archer                  UCC/Munster

18 – James Sandford                  Queen’s University/Ulster

19 – Ian Nagle                           UCC/Munster

20 – Kris Green                         St. Mary’s College/Leinster

21 – Ian Madigan                       Blackrock College RFC/Leinster

22 – Sean Scanlon                      UCC/Munster

Management:

Manager: Phil Orr

Coach: Eric Elwood

Assistant Coach: Dan McFarland

2008 RBS UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS FIXTURES:

Ireland U-20 v Italy U-20, Friday, February 1, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.35pm (live RTE TV)

France U-20 v Ireland U-20, Friday, February 8, Stadium Jacques Fouroux, Auch, 6.30pm

Ireland U-20 v Scotland U-20, Friday, February 22, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.30pm

Ireland U-20 v Wales U-20, Friday, March 7, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.35pm (live RTE TV)

England U-20 v Ireland U-20, Friday, March 14, Kingsholm, Gloucester, 7.45pm