The new Irish coach and former Irish player John Clarke has announced a squad of 16 players to represent Ireland against Scotland in Banbridge on Saturday week. To mark the opening of the new synthetic pitch at Havelock Park, the game will be the first of a series of international matches building towards the European Championships in Padova, Italy in September 1999.

A number of seasoned internationals such as Robbie Taylor, Colin Hade, Ivan Batemen, Greg Sterrit, Lee and Mark Tumilty and Chris Jackson have not been considered on this occasion. All were in the last Ireland squad which travelled to Kuala Lumpur. The decision gives Clarke the option of blooding several new caps with Kyle Thompson, Paddy Browne, Nigel Butimer and Mark Raphael each hoping to impress.

Squad: N Henderson (Pembroke), K Thompson (Holywood), P Brown (Instonians), N Butimer (Cork C of I), D Clarke (Lisnagarvey), N Cooke (Instonians), A Dowd (Lisnagarvey), A Dunne (Cork C of I), M Irwin (Instonians), E Lutton (Newry), G Goulet (Racing Club de France/Avoca), R Madeley (Three Rock Rovers), D McAnulty (Banbridge), M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), A Scott (Avoca), J Stevenson (Lisnagarvey).