Ireland Under-20 Team To Play Wales
The Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, has been named by head coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday’s opening game in the RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship against Wales in Colwyn Bay.
Mike Ruddock has selected a new-look side with just two players from last year’s squad included in the starting line-up – full-back Stuart Olding and scrum half Luke McGrath who will also captain the side.
Speaking ahead of the game, Ruddock said: “The panel have prepared well and have had some good results in our warm-up matches. The guys have worked very hard and are well conditioned.”
The Championship opener between Wales and Ireland takes place at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay on Friday night (kick-off 7.10pm). Match tickets are available here and there will be live TV coverage on RTÉ Two.
Click here to watch Irish Rugby TV’s interviews with Mike Ruddock and back rower Josh van der Flier.
IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Wales Under-20s, 2013 RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship, Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, Friday, February 1, kick-off 7.10pm):
15 – Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
14 – Alexander O’Meara (Hartpury/Exiles)
13 – Tom Daly (Lansdowne/Leinster)
12 – Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
11 – Rory Scholes (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10 – Steve Crosbie (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9 – Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
1 – Brian Scott (UCC/Munster)
2 – George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons/Exiles)
3 – Chris Taylor (Malone/Ulster)
4 – John Donnan (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5 – Gavin Thornbury (UCD/Leinster)
6 – Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)
7 – Ryan Murphy (Dolphin/Munster)
8 – Conor Joyce (Malone/Ulster)
Replacements:
16 – John Andrew (Ballymena/Ulster)
17 – Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18 – Jake Caulfield (Malone/Ulster)
19 – Sean McCarthy (Shannon/Munster)
20 – Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)
21 – John Creighton (Malone/Ulster)
22 – Darren Sweetnam (UCC/Munster)
23 – David Panter (Corinthians/Connacht)
IRELAND’S RBS UNDER-20 6 NATIONS FIXTURES:
Friday, February 1, 7.10pm – Wales U-20s v Ireland U-20s, Parc Eirias
Friday, February 8, 7.35pm – Ireland U-20s v England U-20s, Dubarry Park
Friday, February 22, 7.30pm – Scotland U-20s v Ireland U-20s, Netherdale
Friday, March 8, 7.45pm – Ireland U-20s v France U-20s, Dubarry Park
Friday, March 15, 7pm local time/6pm Irish time – Italy U-20s v Ireland U-20s, Stadio dei Marsi