Foley Brought In As Ireland Under-20s’ Only Change

Head coach Noel McNamara has announced the Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, to face Scotland in the second round of the U-20 Six Nations at Netherdale in Galashiels on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm). Please note that this game will not be televised – there will be score updates on the Irish Rugby Twitter page.

Ireland’s starting XV shows just one change to the side that defeated England 35-27 in Cork last week. Cormac Foley, the scorer of the match-winning try in Cork, is promoted from the bench to start at scrum half, replacing vice-captain Craig Casey who is ruled out through injury.

Up front, props Josh Wycherley and Thomas Clarkson continue alongside Corinthians hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin, who touched down twice and was man-of-the-match in the opening round. Vice-captain Charlie Ryan and Niall Murray resume their second row partnership.

Martin Moloney, the Leinster-capped Scott Penny and number 8 John Hodnett feature again in the back row, while Harry Byrne, the scorer of 15 points last Friday, is joined at half-back by Foley. The rest of the back-line is unchanged with captain David Hawkshaw and Liam Turner paired together at centre, and full-back Jake Flannery combining with wingers Conor Phillips and Jonathan Wren in the back-three.

Shannon prop Luke Masters and Buccaneers’ Colm Reilly, who provides back-up for Foley at scrum half, have been added to the replacements and both will be looking to win their first Ireland Under-20 caps at the home ground of Gala RFC.

Before the squad’s departure for Scotland, McNamara said:

We got things started on a really positive note on Friday night in Cork, and it was a credit to the players with how well they finished the game. It was great to get the Championship off with a win like that, but there’s a new challenge in front of us this Friday.

“I’ve no doubt Scotland will be hurting from their (32-22) loss against Italy. The players are very much focused on their own jobs for this Friday night, and they’re looking forward to their first away match of the campaign.”

Click here to buy your ticket(s) for Scotland Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s via the Scottish Rugby website. General admission is £10 for adults, £1 for Under-18s and £5 for students. Please note that adult and student tickets will increase by £5 at the turnstiles. U-18 tickets will increase to £5 on match day.

IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Scotland Under-20s, 2019 Under-20 Six Nations Championship, Netherdale, Gala RFC, Galashiels, Friday, February 8, kick-off 7.30pm):

15. Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
14. Conor Phillips (Young Munster/Munster)
13. Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster)
12. David Hawkshaw (Clontarf/Leinster) (capt)
11. Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster)
10. Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster)
9. Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
1. Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster)
5. Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)
6. Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
7. Scott Penny (UCD/Leinster)
8. John Hodnett (UCC/Munster)

Replacements:

16. John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster)
18. Luke Masters (Shannon/Munster) *
19. Brian Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster)
20. David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster)
21. Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht) *
22. Sean French (Cork Constitution/Munster)
23. Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster)

* Denotes uncapped player at Under-20 level

IRELAND UNDER-20 2019 U-20 SIX NATIONS RESULTS/FIXTURES:

Friday, February 1:

IRELAND UNDER-20s 35 ENGLAND UNDER-20s 27, Irish Independent Park, Cork

Friday, February 8:

SCOTLAND UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Netherdale, Gala RFC, Galashiels, 7.30pm

Friday, February 22:

ITALY UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Stadio Centro d’Italia – Manlio Scopigno, Rieti, 7pm local time/6pm Irish time (live www.facebook.com/federugby & www.youtube/fedrugby)

Friday, March 8:

IRELAND UNDER-20s v FRANCE UNDER-20s, Irish Independent Park, Cork, 7.15pm (live RTÉ Two)
Click here to buy your match ticket(s) from Ticketmaster.ie

Friday, March 15:

WALES UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Zip World Stadium, Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, 7.05pm (live RTÉ Two)