Ireland U18 Team announced for FIRA Final Showdown against England
The PwC Ireland U18 Schools side to face England U18 in the final of the Elite Division of the FIRA European Championships has been announced by head coach Noel McNamara.
McNamara has named an unchanged pack from the eight that lined out against France but has made a number of adjustments to the backline. Matthew Gilsenan reverts from inside centre to out-half in place of Jimmy O’Brien. Colm Mulcahy switches from outside centre to inside centre and Jack Power moves from full-back to outside centre. Jacob Stockdale moves from left wing to full-back with Calvin Nash coming into the backline to fill the wing berth.
Ireland have beaten Georgia (20-10) and France (24-11) to reach the final while England accounted for Portugal (62-5) and Wales (11-9) en route to the decider. The final takes place on Saturday 19th April in Wronki, Poland kicking off at 16:30 (local time).
U18 Schools Squad for FIRA European Championships Final
15. Jacob Stockdale (Wallace/Ulster)
14. Jordan Larmour (St Andrews/Leinster)
13. Jack Power (Blackrock/Leinster)
12. Colm Mulcahy (Clongowes/Leinster)
11. Calvin Nash (Crescent/Munster)
10. Matthew Gilsenan (St Michaels/Leinster)
9. Rowan Osborne (Clongowes/Leinster)
1. Andrew Porter (St Andrews/Leinster)
2. John Molony (Clongowes/Leinster)
3. Conan O’Donnell (Summerhill/Connacht)
4. James Ryan (St Michaels/Leinster) capt
5. Sean O’Connor (Rockwell/Munster)
6. Will Connors (Clongowes/Leinster)
7. Johnny Guy (St Andrews/Leinster)
8. Max Deegan (St Michaels/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Conor McIlmurray (Campbell/Ulster)
17. Hugo Kean (Blackrock/Leinster)
18. Conor Kenny (Garbally/Connacht)
19. Peter Claffey (Garbally/Connacht)
20. Greg Jones (St Andrews/Leinster)
21. David Duggan (St Michaels/Leinster)
22. Jimmy O’Brien (Newbridge/Leinster)
23. Paul Kiernan (Presentation/Munster)
24. Oisin O’Meara (St Michaels/Leinster)
25. Alan McMahon (Rockwell/Munster)