Ireland U-18 Schools Squad Prepare For European Challenge

The Ireland Under-18 Schools squad are all set for the Rugby Europe Under-18 European Championship which kicks off in France this weekend.

The Ireland Under-18 Schools side warmed up for the tournament with a game against Scotland last weekend and despite losing to a well-drilled pack, they will look forward to their Championship opener against Georgia on Friday with quiet confidence.

Noel McNamara’s young side were beaten 21-13 in Dundee and will have learned the lessons of that game as they prepare for the week-long European tournament.

Ireland kick off their challenge against Georgia in Montauban on Friday night (kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time). The winners of that game will progress to the Elite semi-finals where they will face either Wales or Italy.

The 26-man Irish squad is captained by Rockwell College’s Bill Johnston, who kicked eight points from out-half against Scotland.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Squad (2015 Rugby Europe Under-18 European Championship, Toulouse, France, March 27-April 4):

Rory Butler (Campbell College Belfast)
Tim Carroll (Cistercian College Roscrea)
Alexander Clarke (Ballymena Academy)
Peter Cooper (Sullivan Upper School)
Tom de Jongh (Belvedere College)
Conor Dean (Blackrock College)
Oisin Dowling (St. Michael’s College)
John Foley (St. Munchin’s College Limerick)
Tim Foley (Cistercian College Roscrea)
Cillian Gallagher (Summerhill College Sligo)
Jonny Guy (St. Andrew’s College)
Colm Hogan (Glenstal Abbey)
Bill Johnston (Rockwell College) (capt)
Daniel Kealey (Campbell College Belfast)
Peter Kelleher (Christian Brothers Cork)
Jack Kelly (St. Michael’s College)
Jack Lyons (Crescent College Limerick)
James Kendrick (Rockwell College)
Robert Lyttle (Methodist College Belfast)
Conor McEvoy (Sullivan Upper School)
Jonathan McKeown (Ballymena Academy)
Dylan Murphy (Cistercian College Roscrea)
Calvin Nash (Crescent College Limerick)
Jack O’Sullivan Jnr (Presentation Brothers Cork)
Jonathon Stewart (Wallace High School)
Caelan Doris (Blackrock College)

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS’ FIXTURES:

Friday, March 27: Elite Quarter-Final: Ireland U-18 Schools v Georgia U-18s, Montauban, 7pm local time/6pm Irish time

Tuesday, March 31: Elite Semi-Finals: England/Portugal v France/Scotland; Ireland/Georgia v Wales/Italy

Saturday, April 4: Elite Play-Offs & Final