Ireland U-20 Squad Named For World Championship.

The Ireland Under-20 squad, sponsored by PwC, has been announced for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship. The tournament is taking place in Parma, Italy from June 2 to 20.

Ireland Under-20 head coach Nigel Carolan, has named a squad of 28 with just two players who were not involved in this year's U-20 RBS 6 Nations included.

Munster U-19 hooker Sean McNulty, who played in the 2014 U-20 RBS 6 Nations, comes back into the panel having recovered from injury and is joined by the uncapped Charlie Rock.

Greencore Munster Academy player Stephen Fitzgerald is named among the backs having impressed in this year's 6 Nations.

Eight of the squad have previous Under-20 Championship experience (previously known as the Junior World Championship) having played in last year's tournament in New Zealand where Ireland finished fourth overall – Ross Byrne, Billy Dardis, Ciaran Gaffney, Oisin Heffernan, Nick McCarthy, Rory Moloney, Josh Murphy and Garry Ringrose.

Ireland are in Pool C with Argentina, Scotland and New Zealand for June's competition. Carolan's youngsters open their tournament against Argentina in Parma on Tuesday, June 2.

IRELAND UNDER-20 Squad (2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship, Parma, Italy, June 2-20):

Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster)
Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
Conán O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Conor Oliver (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Jack Owens (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jacob Stockdale (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

* Denotes uncapped player at Under-20 international level

2015 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP:

POOL A – England, France, Wales, Japan
POOL B – South Africa, Australia, Samoa, Italy
POOL C – New Zealand, IRELAND, Argentina, Scotland

IRELAND UNDER-20 FIXTURES

Tuesday, June 2: Ireland Under-20s v Argentina Under-20s, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time

Saturday, June 6: Ireland Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s, Stadio San Michele, Calvisano, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time

Wednesday, June 10: New Zealand Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana, kick-off 8.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time

Matchday 4: Play-offs and semi-finals, Monday, June 15

Matchday 5: Play-offs and final, Saturday, June 20