Ireland Under 21s.

Tom Gleeson, Mark Melbourne and Anthony Kavanagh are selected on the Ireland U21 side for the game against Italy with David O’Leary and Barry Keeshan on the bench

Tom Gleeson, Mark Melbourne and Anthony Kavanagh have been selected on the Ireland U21 starting XV for the game against Italy with David O’Leary and Barry Keeshan named on the bench.

Eight of the starting line-up represent Ulster clubs – five from Belfast Harlequins – and they include the captain, out-half Gareth Steenson (Dungannon) and full international Tommy Bowe who made his senior debut against the US Eagles last November scoring a try in the process.

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play against Italy U21 in Udine on Saturday, 5th February (14.30).

15 – Mark Kettyle (Belfast Harlequins) 14 – Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins) 13 – Tom Gleeson (UCC) 12 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena) 11 – Paul McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins) 10 – Gareth Steenson (Dungannon) Captain 9 – Cillian Willis (UCD) 1 – Michael Diffley (Buccaneers) 2 – Joeseph Merrigan (Corinthians) 3 – John Andress (Belfast Harlequins) 4 – Lewis Stevensen (Belfast Harlequins) 5 – Mark Melbourne (Garryowen) 6 – Brett McNamee (Northampton) 7 – Anthony Kavanagh (Garryowen) 8 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon) Replacements: 16 – Stuart Philpott (Saracens) 17 – Eamonn Bracken (Buccaneers) 18 – Trevor Richardson (Buccaneers) 19 – Chris Henry (Malone) 20 – David O Leary (UCC) 21 – Barry Keeshan (Cork Constitution) 22 – Kieran Geraghty (London Irish)