Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools Squad Announced

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs & Schools squad, sponsored by PwC, to play two games against England U-18 Counties this week at Ashbourne RFC has been confirmed.

The 24 players selected come from a mix of clubs and schools, including Bandon Grammar School pair Ashley and Colin Deane, while Sale Sharks centre Kieran Dunne, a try scorer for the Ireland Under-18 Clubs team against Portugal last November, heads up the six-strong Exiles contingent.

Ballymena Academy out-half Bruce Houston is back for a second year at this level, having kicked 11 points in last April’s 21-17 win over England U-18 Counties in Ashbourne.

Cian Huxford and Hugh Lane, the respective captain and vice-captain of the Connacht U-18 Clubs side this season, have both made the cut along with Letterkenny lock Conor McMenamin and Rainey prop Jack McIntosh who has benefited from some recent game-time in Ulster Bank League Division 2C.

The first fixture of the two-match series is set for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2pm in Ashbourne, with the second game taking place at the same venue on Easter Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

The Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools youngsters are coached by Mark Butler, with Colm Tucker and Adrian Flavin as assistants, and Michael Black is the team manager.

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS & SCHOOLS Squad (v England Under-18 Counties, Ashbourne RFC, Wednesday, April 12/Saturday, April 15):

Darragh Bolger (Clontarf FC/Portmarnock Community School/Leinster)
Ashley Deane (Bandon Grammar School/Munster)
Colin Deane (Bandon Grammar School/Munster)
Kieran Dunne (Sale Sharks/Exiles)
Caolan Englefield (Harlequins/St. Paul’s CC Sunbury/Exiles)
Luke Fitzgerald (Young Munster/Glenstal Abbey/Munster)
Mark Fleming (Glenstal Abbey/Munster)
Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
Cian Huxford (Galway Corinthians/Calasantius College/Connacht)
Conor Kelly (CC Roscrea/Leinster)
Paddy Kelly (St. Munchin’s College/Munster)
Oisin Kiernan (Campbell College/Ulster)
Hugh Lane (Galwegians/Presentation College Athenry/Connacht)
Jamie Macartney (Campbell College/Ulster)
Tom Maher (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jack McIntosh (St. Pius Xavier College/Rainey Old Boys RFC/Ulster)
Conor McMenamin (Letterkenny RFC/Colaiste Ailigh/Ulster)
Oran McNulty (Bath RFC/Millfield School/Exiles)
Sean Molony (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Wasps/Henley College/Exiles)
Aaron Sexton (Bangor Grammar School/Ulster)
Colin Sisk (CBC Cork/Munster)
Callum Torpey (London Irish/Epsom College/Exiles)
Jack Walters (London Irish/St. Paul’s CC Sunbury/Exiles)

IRELAND U-18 CLUBS & SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT –

Head Coach – Mark Butler
Team Manager – Michael Black
Assistant Coach – Colm Tucker
Scrum Coach – Adrian Flavin
S&C Coach – Ciaran Walsh
Baggage Master – John McDonald
Team Analyst – Brian Fitzgerald
Team Doctor – Padraig Sheehan
Team Physio – Patrick Hanley
Team Nutritionist – Nóra Ní Fhlannagáin
Team Services – Rory Wilson

IRELAND U-18 CLUBS & SCHOOLS XV FIXTURES:

Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools v England U-18 Counties, Ashbourne RFC, Wednesday, April 12, kick-off 2pm
Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools v England U-18 Counties, Ashbourne RFC, Saturday April 15, kick-off 2pm