The Ireland under-18 club team and Ireland under-19 team have both been named for an away double header against England this weekend.
Both sides played a similar double header in Dublin before Easter against strong French selections and were just beaten in tight encounters.
The under-18 club side lost 19-13 despite outscoring their counterparts two tries to one. There have been changes to the starting team from that game, with out half Fergal Cleary swapping places with centre Sean O’Hagan in a new look midfield. In the forwards Scott Flanagan starts at hooker in place of Paul O’Donnell who is injured, with Shane Byrne coming into the replacements as back up.
The under-19 team streaked into a 15-0 lead in their last outing against France under-19, but lost narrowly 24-15 in the end after a late French rally in the second half. There are also two changes to the starting team from that game, with Robbie Henshaw starting at outside centre in place of Tom Farrell, a try scorer against France under-19. In the forwards, Christopher Taylor starts at tight head prop, with James Dever moving to the replacements.
Ireland Under-18 Clubs v England Under-18 Clubs and Schools (Saturday 14th April, Old Merchant Taylors RFC Middlesex – Kick-off 12.00)
15 – Rueben Pepper-Hobbs (Westport/Connacht)
14 – Adrian Enright (Abbeyfeale/Munster)
13 – Adam Byrne (Naas/Leinster)
12 – Fergal Cleary (Navan/Leinster)
11 – Seamus Keating (Dungarvan/Munster)
10 – Sean O’Hagan (London Irish/St Benedicts/Exiles)
9 – Killian O’Keeffe (Crosshaven/Munster)
1 – Peter Dooley (Birr/Leinster)
2 – Scott Flannagan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3 – Jacob Walsh (Ballinasloe/Connacht)
4 – Russell Blair (Ballymoney/Ulster)
5 – John Madigan (Charleville/Munster)
6 – Killian Sweeney (Malahide/Leinster)
7- Joe Bercis (Rugby Lions/Exiles)
8 – Jack O’Donohue (Waterpark/Munster) Captain
Replacements:
16 – Brian Cunningham (Navan/Leinster)
17 – Stephen Dalton (Westcombe Park/Exiles)
18 – Shane Byrne (Wicklow/Leinster)
19 – Luke Connolly (Glamorgan Wanderers/Exiles)
20 – Frankie Taggart (Whitgift/Exiles)
21 – Caolin Blade (Monivea/Connacht)
22 – Jim White (Enniscorthy/Leinster)
23 – Eoghan O’Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Management:
Head Coach – Wayne Mitchell
Manager – Willie Gribben
Assistant Coach – Jimmy Duffy
Doctor – John Quinlan
Physiotherapist – David Hanly
S&C Coach – Joe Mc Ginley
Video Analyst – Jim Herring
Kit/logistics – Tom Nyhan
Squad Coordinator – Sinead Bennett
Ireland Under-19 v England Under-19 (Saturday 14th April, London Irish RFC, Sunbury – Kick-off 13.00)
15 – Darragh Leader (Galwegians RFC / Connacht)
14 – Max McFarland (Clongowes Wood College /Leinster)
13 – Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
12 – Thomas Daly (Carlow RFC/Leinster)
11 – Rory Scholes (Belfast Harlequins RFC/Ulster)
10 – Steve Crosbie (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9 – Dave Shannahan (Clontarf RFC/Leinster)
1 – Edward Byrne (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
2 – Bryan Byrne (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
3 – Christopher Taylor (Malone RFC/Ulster)
4 – Ultan Dillane (Tralee RFC/Munster)
5 – Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College/Leinster)
6 – Conor Joyce (Malone RFC/Ulster) Captain
7 – Josh Van Der Flier (UCD RFC/Leinster)
8 – Ryan Murphy (Dolphin RFC/Munster)
Replacements:
16 – John Andrew (Ballymena RFC / Ulster)
17 – Niall Horan (Crescent College /Munster)
18 – Jamie Dever (Westport RFC /Connacht)
19 – Sean McCarthy (Rockwell College/Munster)
20 – Donagh Lawler (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
21 – Barry Digby (Buccaneers RFC /Connacht)
22 – Harry McNulty (Dublin University RFC/Munster)
23 – Eoghain Quinn (Castleknock College/ Leinster)
Management:
Head Coach – Colin McEntee
Manager – Barney McGonigle
Assistant Coach – Nigel Carolan
Doctor – Tim O’Flanagan
Physiotherapist – Barry Smith
S&C Coach – Sami Dowling
Video Analyst – Vinny Hammond
Kit/logisitcs – Colin Phillips
Squad Coordinator – Sinead Bennett
