Ireland U18 Men’s 7s Squad Named For Rugby Europe

The Ireland Sevens Management have confirmed the 12 players to compete in this weekend’s Rugby Europe Under-18 Men’s Sevens Championship in Panevezys, Lithuania.

A total of five players from across the Munster province have been selected with Glenstal Abbey’s Ronan Quinn named as captain and Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC), Jack Hunt (Rockwell College), Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork) and Kevin O’Connor (Cashel RFC) also named.

The tournament, which Ireland won for the second consecutive time last September in Heidelberg, Germany, will also double as the qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games, which take place in Buenos Aires this October.

16 teams will compete at the tournament, spread across four pools. Ireland are drawn in Pool A along with Italy, Russia and Sweden.

Quinn, is set for his second Rugby Europe Championships, having competed at the tournament Heidelberg last September.

Also included in the squad are Hayden Hyde and Jack Hunt who were regular starters for the Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools, with Hyde scoring three tries during the series, and Hunt two.

Waterpark out-half Daly, who is also an Ireland U-18 Clubs & Schools representative, helped Munster win the IRFU U18 Clubs Interprovincial title earlier this season.

Alex Kendellen and Ryan O’Neill featured in the back row for much of the Ireland U-18 School side’s Easter campaign, including the U18 Six Nations Festival in Wales. St. Michael’s College winger Andrew Smith was also part of the Ireland Schools set-up this year.

Ben Watson helped St. Gerard’s win the Leinster Schools Senior League title this season.

Showing the development pathway for Under-18 players within the IRFU Sevens Programme, Skerries’ Hugo Lennox played in last year’s European tournament in Germany and his impressive performances led to him lining out with the Ireland Men’s Sevens senior team at the Oktoberfest 7s in Munich a few weeks later. He has been part of the wider Men’s Sevens Programme this season.

The side will be coached by Simon Broughton, and ahead of the team departing he said:

“It’s a really exciting tournament for the players, with the opportunity to not only claim a third Championship, but also a place at the Youth Olympics in Argentina.

“The players were in camp together last weekend, and while they have had limited time together, they are a talented group and I’ve no doubt they will grow and improve as the tournament progresses.”

Rugby Europe will stream the tournament at www.rugbyeurope.tv

Ireland U18 Men’s 7s Squad – Rugby Europe U18 Men’s Sevens Championships
Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC / Munster)
Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster)
Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School/Harlequins Academy/IQ Rugby)
Jack Hunt (Rockwell College/Munster)
Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/Munster)
John Maher (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
Mark O’Brien (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Kevin O’Connor (Cashel RFC/Munster)
Ryan O’Neill (Royal School Armagh/Ulster)
Ronan Quinn (Glenstal Abbey/Munster)
Andrew Smith (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Ben Watson (St. Gerard’s School/Leinster)

Ireland U18 Men’s 7s Squad – Pool A Fixtures – 5th May 2018
Ireland v Sweden – 10.44am (local time) / 8.44am (Irish time)
Ireland v Russia – 2.24pm (local time) / 12.24pm (Irish time)
Ireland v Italy – 5.42pm (local time) / 3.42pm (Irish time)

Ireland U18 Men’s 7s Management
Head Coach: Simon Broughton
Manager: Mark Butler
Assistant Coach: Stan McDowell
Physiotherapist: Lorcan McGee