Ireland Under-21 Team Announced

…Belfast Harlequins hooker Stuart Philpott, who captains the Ireland Under-21s against Leinster ‘A’…

The Ireland Under-21 team to play Leinster ‘A’ at Donnybrook today (kick-off 5.00pm), has been confirmed.

Under-21 coach Mark McDermott has made six changes to the side that lost 44-14 to Leinster ‘A’ at Stradbrook on December 30.

Blackrock’s Fionn Carr reverts to full-back, taking over from Matt Williams of Bristol Shoguns, with Galwegians’ Peter Durcan coming in on the right wing. UCD’s Fergus McFadden replaces Tom Gleeson (Cork Con) at inside centre, while the other change in the backline sees Garryowen’s Conan Doyle get the nod at number 10. Kieran Hallett, who started the Stradbrook fixture, has returned to his club Bedford Blues.

St Mary’s starlet Jonathan Sexton was originally selected at fly half, but has had to withdraw due to injury.

Belfast Harlequins’ Stuart Philpott, fresh from scoring a try in his side’s 31-27 AIB League win at home to UL Bohs on Saturday, captains the side, taking over the hooker berth from Batt Duggan of UCC. David McGowan of Buccaneers makes way for Lansdowne’s Devin Toner in the second row, while Billy Holland brings the UCC representation in the XV to three as he comes in for the benched Sean O’Brien (UCD).

IRELAND UNDER-21: 15 – Fionn Carr (Blackrock College); 14 – Peter Durcan (Galwegians), 13 – Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins), 12 – Fergus McFadden (UCD), 11 – Ian Hanly (UL Bohemians); 10 – Conan Doyle (Garryowen), 9 – Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch); 1 – Darragh Hurley (UCC), 2 – Stuart Philpott (Belfast Harlequins), 3 – Paul Doran-Jones (Dublin University), 4 – Dan Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), 5 – Devin Toner (Lansdowne), 6 – Ross Noonan (UCC) , 7 – Ejike Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), 8 – Billy Holland (UCC).

Replacements: 16 – Callum Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), 17 – Sean Cronin (Shannon), 18 – David Ryan (Highfield), 19 – David McGowan (Buccaneers), 20 – Sean O’Brien (UCD), 21 – Duncan Williams (UCC, 22 – Dale Black (Dungannon).

LEINSTER ‘A’: Backs (from): Ross McCarron, Brendan Burke, James Norton, Gary Brown, Eoghan Hickey, David McAllister, John Hepworth, Brian O’Meara, Greg Stafford, Stephen Grissing.

1 – John Lyne, 2 – Conor Geoghegan, 3 – Nick Duffy, 4 – Ben Gissing, 5 – Simon Crawford (capt), 6 – Alex Dunlop, 7 – Ciaran Potts, 8 – Kevin McLaughlin.

Forward Replacements: Robert Sweeney, Keith Doyle, Cillian O’Byrne, Alex O’Sullivan, Hugh Hogan, AN Other.