Mongan Named In Irish Colleges Squad
The AIB League’s in-form winger, David Mongan, has been chosen in a 22-man squad for the Irish Colleges’ opening international of 2010 against a French Students selection this Friday night.
David Mongan has scored 14 tries for Old Belvedere in AIB League Division 1B this season, helping to keep the Dublin 4 side on track for promotion and a place in the end of season play-offs.
He is hoping to play his part in a victory for the Irish Colleges squad, sponsored by Treasury Holdings, on Friday night when they take on the French Students side at Stade Gilbert Santiago in Barbezieux (kick-off 8pm local time/7pm Irish time).
Leinster Colleges, who are gunning for back-to-back Irish College Interpro titles, unsurprisingly supply the majority of the travelling squad.
There are a number of AIB League regulars included, with Galwegians flyer John Cleary, Ballymena duo Ross Hackney and Andrew Ferguson and Lorcan Kavanagh from Division 2 leaders Lansdowne among those set to play.
John Clogan (Shannon) and Wayne Falvey (UCC) are flying the flag for Munster, while Division 1A club Clontarf have four players involved in Sean Treacy, a son of Irish athletics great John Treacy, Hugo Nolan, Michael Kearney and Ben Reilly.
Irish Colleges lost 18-3 to the French Students in their inaugural match at Balbriggan RFC twelve months ago. Click here to read a match report.
Ferguson, Kavanagh and Treacy all against the French line-up in 2009, along with the returning Joshua Devitt, John Dever and Alex Dunlop.
With over 25,000 students in the third level Colleges across Ireland, the Colleges game has been identified as a key development area as part of the IRFU’s Strategic Plan 2012.
The Irish Colleges Rugby Union incorporates Universities, Agricultural Colleges and Institutes of Technology, Army and Garda Colleges along with other third level Instituitons.
39 Universities and Colleges and 750 students are involved at this level, covering urban and rural Ireland both north and south.
IRISH COLLEGES Squad (v French Students) – Backs (10): Sean Treacy (DCU/Clontarf), Hugo Nolan (DCU/Clontarf), James Power (DIT/Blackrock College), Philip De Barra (IT Carlow/De La Salle Palmerston), John Cleary (GMIT/Galwegians), John Clogan (WIT/Shannon), Lorcan Kavanagh (DCU/Lansdowne), David Mongan (DCU/Old Belvedere), Paul Harte (Athlone IT/Buccaneers), Joshua Devitt (UUJ/Instonians).
Forwards (12): Jarleth Naughton (GMIT/Galwegians), Andrew Ferguson (Belfast Metropolitan College/Ballymena), Steven Morton (UUJ/Portadown), Wayne Falvey (Cork IT/UCC), Sean Preston (DIT/St. Mary’s College), Michael Kearney (IT Carlow/Clontarf), Ben Reilly (DCU/Clontarf), Padraig Bourke (Athlone IT/Buccaneers), Cathal Deans (IT Tallaght/Terenure College), John Dever (Garda College/Terenure College), Ross Hackney (UUJ/Ballymena), Alex Dunlop (IT Tallaght/Blackrock College).