Ireland squad Announced for U20 Six Nations
The Ireland U20 squad, sponsored by PwC, has been confirmed for the 2018 U20 Six Nations Championship by Head Coach Noel McNamara.
The 32-man squad features 11 players who were capped across last season's U20 Six Nations and World Rugby U20 World Championships.
In the forwards, prop Jordan Duggan, hookers Ronan Kelleher and Diarmuid Barron, along with back-row Sean Masterson all featured last season, as did backs; scrum-half Jonny Stewart, out-half Conor Dean, centres Angus Curtis, David McCarthy and Tommy O'Brien along with back three players Mark Keane and Michael Silvester. Tommy O'Brien will captain the side.
On selection of the squad, McNamara said: "It's an exciting time for the players and the coaching team. There have been some tight calls across the board and it's great to see that competition for places. Also, with 11 players who were involved last season, there is some good experience across the squad.
The players have all been working hard over the past number of months and we're confident in the ability of the squad that we have selected.
The Ireland U20s will open their Six Nations campaign against France U20s next Friday night at the Stade Amédée Domenech in Brive.
Ireland will play their home games against Italy, Wales and Scotland on Friday nights in Donnybrook Stadium, with the series of home games again being sponsored by Electric Ireland.
Their campaign will conclude with a trip to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry to face England on the 16th March, in a double header with the Ireland and England Women's teams.
Tickets for the Ireland U20s games in Donnybrook are available from www.ticketmaster.ie
IRELAND U20 Squad, sponsored by PwC, for the U20 Six Nations Championship 2018
Forwards:
Jack Aungier (St. Mary's /Leinster)
Matthew Agnew (Ballymenia/Ulster)
Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen /Munster)
Joe Byrne (Dublin University /Leinster)
Ronan Coffey (Shannon /Munster)
Matthew Dalton (Malone /Ulster)
Cormac Daly (Clontarf /Leinster)
Jordan Duggan (Naas /Leinster)
Jack Dunne (Dublin University /Leinster)
Joe Dunleavy (Malone /Ulster)
James French (UCC /Munster)
Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch /Ulster)
Max Kearney (Dublin University /Leinster)
Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne /Leinster)
Sean Masterson (Corinthians /Connacht)
Jack O'Sullivan (UCC /Munster)
Tom O'Toole (Banbridge /Ulster)
Charlie Ryan (UCD /Leinster)
Backs:
Harry Byrne (UCD /Leinster)
Angus Curtis (Queen's University /Ulster)
Conor Dean (St. Mary's /Leinster)
Conor Hayes (Young Munster /Munster)
Mark Keane (Queen's University)
Angus Kernohan (Ballymena /Ulster)
David McCarthy (Garryowen /Munster)
James McCarthy (UL Bohemian /Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf /Leinster)
Tommy O'Brien (UCD /Leinster) Captain
Hugh O'Sullivan (Clontarf /Leinster)
Jonny Stewart (Queen's University /Ulster)
Michael Silvester (Dublin University /Leinster)
Peter Sullivan (Lansdowne /Leinster)
IRELAND U20 Six Nations Fixtures 2018
Friday 2rd February 2018
France U20 v Ireland U20, 9pm (local)/8pm (Irish time), Stade Amédée Domenech, Brive
Friday 9th February 2018
Ireland U20 v Italy U20, 7.15pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Friday 23rd February 2018
Ireland U20 v Wales U20, 7.15pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 9th March 2018
Ireland U20 v Scotland U20, 7.15pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Friday 16th March 2018
England U20 v Ireland U20, 8pm, Ricoh Arena, Coventry