Ireland U-18 Squads Announced For Easter Festivals

Two Ireland Under-18 squads, sponsored by PwC, to take part in the Five Nations Festival and Tri Nations Festival over Easter have been confirmed.

Both sides are made up of a combination of schools and clubs players. There are also several players that have come through the Exiles identification programme.
 
Speaking ahead of the tournaments, IRFU High Performance Manager Colin McEntee said: “These two festivals provide the opportunity to challenge, develop and nurture our young aspiring players in a learning environment via international fixtures.

“The collective aim of the participating countries in both festivals is for the players to demonstrate their ability, to play positive rugby and as a result all countries can effectively measure performance, i.e. technical, tactical and positional.

“This period also allows Ireland to externally benchmark our players’ skills and style against our six nations competitors. Both our players and managements are really looking forward to the festivals at which I’m sure future Irish internationals will be identified.”

 
The Five Nations Festival, which features Ireland, England, Italy, Scotland and Wales, takes place in Bristol and the CBB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly between March 24 and April 2. Ireland will take on England, Scotland and Italy.

The Five Nations squad will be coached by Noel McNamara, assisted by Alex Codling. John McKinney will manage the squad.

The Tri Nations Festival will take place in Ashbourne RFC between March 26 and April 2 and will feature Ireland, England and France.
 
The Tri Nations Festival side will be coached by Mark Butler, assisted by Colm Tucker. Dermot Kelly will manage the squad.

IRELAND UNDER-18 Squad (Five Nations Festival, Bristol/Caerphilly, March/April 2016):

Ollie Brown (Harpenden RFC/Exiles)
Alexander Clarke (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)
Ronan Coffey (Ard Scoil Ris/Munster)
Matthew Dalton (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)
Conor Dean (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Caelan Doris (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Richard Dunne (Blackrock College/Leinster)
David Hawkshaw (Belvedere College/Leinster)
James Hume (RBAI/Ulster)
Daniel Hurley (Cresent CC/Munster)
Ronan Kelleher (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Sean Masterson (Portlaoise RFC)
Tadgh McCarthy (Bantry Bay RFC/Munster)
John McCusker (Rainey Old Boys/Ulster)
Michael Milne (Cistercian College Roscrea/Munster)
James Newey (Christ College Brecon/Exiles)
Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Hugh O’Sullivan (Belvedere College/Leinster)
Tom O’Toole (Campbell College/Ulster)
Callum Reid (RBAI/Ulster)
David Robb (Galwegians/Connacht)
Charlie Ryan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jonathon Stewart (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Liam Turner (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Conor Wharton (Oaklands College/Exiles)
 
Five Nations Tournament Fixtures –

Ireland Under-18s v England Under-18s – Filton College, Bristol, March 24, 1pm
Ireland Under-18s v Scotland Under-18s – CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly, March 29, 2pm
Ireland Under-18s v Italy Under-18s – CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly, April 2, 11am

IRELAND UNDER-18 Squad (Tri Nations Festival, Ashbourne RFC, March/April 2016):

Diarmuid Barron (Rockwell College/Munster)
Aaron Browne (Cistercian College Roscrea/Leinster)
Evin Coyle (Gonzaga College/Leinster)
Alex Crocker (Henley College/Exiles)
Jack Daly (Castleisland/Munster)
Sam Dardis (Terenure College/Leinster)
Jack Dunne (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Cathal Duff (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
Jonjo Fanning (Bugbrooke RFC/Exiles)
Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy/ Ulster)
David McCarthy (Skibbereen RFC/Munster)
Stephen McLaughlin (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Paul Mullan (Armagh RFC/Ulster)
Andrew Murphy (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Fergus O’Brien (Whitgift School/Exiles)
Thomas O’Callaghan (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)
JJ O’Dea (Navan/Leinster)
Rhys O’Donnell (RBAI & Instonians/Ulster)
Jack O’Sullivan (PBC/Munster)
Conor Philips (Crescent College/Munster)
Cory Reid (Buccaneers & Marist College/Connacht)
Michael Silvester (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
Peter Sylvester (PBC/Munster)
 
Tri Nations Tournament Fixtures –

Ireland Under-18s v France Under-18s – Ashbourne RFC, March 26, 2pm
Ireland Under-18s v England Under-18s – Ashbourne RFC, April 2, 2pm

Team Managements:
 
Ireland U-18 Five Nations Team Management –

Noel McNamara – Head Coach
Alex Codling – Assistant Coach
John McKinney – Team Manager
Seamus Toomey – Scrum Coach
Micheál Devane – Strength and Conditioning Coach
John Ryan – Team Doctor
David Lyons – Team Physio
Rory Wilson – Squad Co-ordinator
Brett Igoe – Team Analyst
Mo Dempsey – Baggage Master
 
Ireland U-18 Tri Nations Team Management –

Mark Butler – Head Coach
Colm Tucker – Assistant Coach
Dermot Kelly – Team Manager
Adrian Flavin – Scrum Coach
Ciaran Walsh – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Padraig Sheeran – Team Doctor
Damien Mordon – Team Physio
Rory Wilson – Squad Co-ordinator
Brian Fitzgerald – Team Analyst
John McDonald – Baggage Master