Ireland Side For U20 World Championship Opener Against England

3rd June 2019 By The Editor

Jake Flannery and Jonathan Wren are among the starting XV for Ireland's opener.

Ireland U20 Head Coach Noel McNamara has confirmed the starting XV to face England this Tuesday in his side’s opening game of the World Rugby U20 World Championships.

The game takes place at the Club de Rugby Atheneo Immaculada in Santa Fe, kicking off at 7.30pm Irish time.

Five Munster men start the clash: Josh Wycherley (Young Munster), John Hodnett (UCC), Jack Flannery (Shannon), Craig Casey (Shannon) and Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution).

The side sees the familiar front-row of Wycherley, Dylan Tierny-Martin and Tom Clarkson line out.

Packing down behind in them in the second row are captain Charlie Ryan and Ryan Baird.

The back-row will see David McCann at number 6, John Hodnett at 7 and Azur Allison will win his first U20 cap at number 8.

Craig Casey starts at scrum-half alongside his Shannon RFC clubmate Jake Flannery, who lines out at out-half.

Stewart Moore will earn his first U20 cap at centre, where he partners Liam Turner.

The back-three sees Wren and Angus Kernohan on the wings, with Iwan Hughes set to win his first U20 cap from full-back.

World Rugby have introduced a change to how replacements can be used for the U20 World Championships, with the remaining squad members outside of the starting XV all allowed to be named on the replacements.

Ireland share Pool B with Australia, England and Italy and England and games will be shown live on Eir Sport in the Republic of Ireland, with ITV holding UK TV rights. If games are not shown live on TV, they will be streamed via World Rugby Online Channels.

Ireland: Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*; Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster), Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster), Stewart Moore (Malone/Ulster)*, Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster); Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster); Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht), Tom Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster); Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (C), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster); David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster), John Hodnett (UCC/Munster), Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster)*.

Replacements from: Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster), Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster)*, John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster)*, Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*, Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ronan Watters (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Ciaran Booth (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)*, Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht), Cormac Foley (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster), Seán French (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster).