Ireland U20 Side Selected For England Clash In Cork

Head Coach Noel McNamara has named the Ireland U20 side, sponsored by PwC, to take on England in the opening game of the U20 Six Nations, this Friday night at 7.15pm in Irish Independent Park.

A total of seven Munster players have been selected in the match-day 23, including Shannon’s Jake Flannery and Craig Casey, Young Munster’s Conor Phillips and Josh Wycherley, Cork Con’s Jonathan Wren and UCC’s John Hodnett, while Cork Con’s Seán French is named on the bench.

In the front-row, props Josh Wycherley and Thomas Clarkson will start alongside hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin, who wins his second U20 cap having made his debut at last season’s U20 World Championships.

Charlie Ryan, who returns for his second U20 Six Nations campaign, starts in the second row alongside Niall Murray.

Martin Moloney, Scott Penny and Number 8 Hodnett are named in the back row.

Scrum-half Casey will partner out-half Harry Byrne, who is set to win his 11th U20 cap.

Captain David Hawkshaw partners Liam Turner the centre.

Flannery starts at full-back, with Phillips and Wren lining out on the wings.

Ahead of the Ireland U20s debut test in Cork, McNamara said;

“The players have prepared very well since we first came together before Christmas. We had a good camp last week in Cork and are looking forward to the challenge that England will bring this Friday night.

We have a very talented group of players in the squad, and there were a number of tight calls on selection for this game. There is a lot of rugby to be played over the coming weeks and months, so the competitiveness in the squad is a real positive and bodes well for the season ahead.

Everyone involved is excited to be heading to Irish Independent Park for this opening fixture. It’s a great venue, with a nice fast pitch and we’re looking forward to getting the campaign underway in front of an energetic and lively crowd in Cork.”

Tickets are available for the Ireland U20 home games via www.ticketmaster.ie.

The match will be broadcast live by RTE, directly after the Ireland Women’s game against England (5pm kick-off).

Click HERE for ticket and matchday information.

Ireland U20 v England U20, U20 Six Championship, Irish Independent Park, Cork. Kick-Off: 7.15pm

15. Jake Flannery (Shannon RFC / Munster)

14. Conor Phillips (Young Munster RFC / Munster)

13. Liam Turner (Dublin University FC / Leinster)

12. David Hawkshaw (Clontarf FC / Leinster) Captain

11. Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution FC / Munster)

10. Harry Byrne (Lansdowne FC / Leinster)*

9. Craig Casey (Shannon RFC / Munster)

1. Josh Wycherley (Young Munster RFC / Munster)

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians RFC / Connacht)*

3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University FC / Leinster)

4. Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC / Leinster)*

5. Niall Murray (Buccaneers RFC / Connacht)

6. Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)

7. Scott Penny (UCD RFC / Leinster)

8. John Hodnett (UCC RFC / Munster)

Replacements:

16. John McKee (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)

17. Michael Milne (UCD RFC / Leinster)

18. Ryan Lomas (Galwegians RFC / Connacht)

19. Brian Deeny (Clontarf FC / Leinster)

20. David McCann (Banbridge RFC / Ulster)

21. Cormac Foley (St.Mary’s College RFC / Leinster)

22. Sean French (Cork Constitution FC / Munster)

23. Rob Russell (Dublin University FC / Leinster)

IRELAND U20 Six Nations Fixtures 2019

Friday 1st February 2019
Ireland U20 v England U20, 7.15pm, Irish Independent Park, Cork
Live on RTE

Friday 8th February 2019
Scotland U20 v Ireland U20, 7.30pm. Netherdale, Galashiels

Friday 22nd February 2019
Italy U20 v Ireland U20, Stadio Centro d’Italia, Rieti
Stream via FIR – Facebook.com/Federugby & Youtube.com/Fedrugby

Friday 8th March 2019
Ireland U20 v France U20, 7.15pm, Irish Independent Park, Cork
Live on RTE

Friday 15th March 2019
Wales U20 v Ireland U20, 7.15pm, Stadwim Zip World (Parc Eirias), Colwyn Bay
Live on RTE