Jones To Lead Wolfhounds

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt has announced his Wolfhounds side to face England Saxons at Irish Independent Park, Cork tomorrow night and names Munster’s Felix Jones as captain.

Having impressed for Ireland in the recent November GUINNESS Series, Jones will captain the side from full-back and is joined by Keith Earls in the starting line-up.

No stranger to the leadership role, Jones has already captained Munster on four occasions this season while Earls returns to the Irish fold post-injury.

An unfortunate spate of injuries has saw the Munster winger/centre miss all of last year’s 6 Nations and subsequent international fixtures.

Kick-start your weekend cheering on Ireland Wolfhounds under Friday-night-lights – KO 7:45pm. Tickets from just €;15 for Adults and €;30 for Families can be purchased online by clicking here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park or by calling 0818 719 300.

Ireland Wolfhounds:
15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) (capt)
14. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
6. Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *

Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17. Michael Bent (Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Galwegians/Connacht) *
19. Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)
20. Eoin McKeon (Corinthians/Connacht) *
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)

* Denotes uncapped player at Test level

Meanwhile the England Saxons team to face the Wolfhounds tomorrow night has also been named.

England Saxons:
15. Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
14. Chris Ashton (Saracens)
13. Elliot Daly (Wasps)
12. Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby)
11. Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
10. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9. Lee Dickson, captain (Northampton Saints)

1. Matt Mullan (Wasps)
2. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
3. Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
4. Matt Garvey (Bath Rugby)
5. James Gaskell (Wasps)
6. Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
7. Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
8. Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)

Replacements :
16 Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
17 Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
18 Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
19 Maro Itoje (Saracens)
20 Carl Fearns (Bath)
21 Joe Simpson (Wasps)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Christian Wade (Wasps)