Reuben Crothers returns to captain Ireland at U20 Six Nations

Reuben Crothers, who will captain Ireland for this season's Under-20 Six Nations Championship, is one of four players returning from last season alongside Bristol Bears wing Chay Mullins, prop Jack Boyle and secondrow Mark Morrissey.

Irish head coach Richie Murphy named a 31 strong squad with a further player to be added following this weekend's All Ireland League action. There are a number of challenges facing the group as none will have played underage representative rugby at this level in terms of U-18 and U-19 because of Covid-19.

The squad includes talented Young Munster fullback Patrick Campbell, a try scorer against Wasps in a Champions Cup match at the Ricoh Arena and scrumhalf Ethan Coughlan, outhalf Tony Butler and flanker Conor Moloney who came on that day. Ireland’s first game is against Wales at Musgrave Park next Friday night.

Murphy said: “The squad has come together quite well. We’ve looked at I think 54 players through camp, and we’re down to 31 at the moment. We will add in another player, one of our players picked up an injury during the week and will miss out on the back of that, and we’ll pick up another player after the AIL games this weekend.”

Munster and Ulster announce yet more contract extensions

---

Josh Murphy set for move west to join Connacht next season

---

Regional problems can wait as Wales look to paper over the cracks once more

---

Lawes and May concerns add to England’s injury woes

---

Ireland Under-20 squad: O Michel (Lansdowne), J Hanlon (Ballynahinch), A McNamee (Malone), C Moloney (Young Munster), J Glasgow (City of Armagh), M Morrissey (UCD), R Crothers (Ballynahinch, capt), J Culhane (UCD), R McGuire (UCD), J McCormick (Ballymena), C O'Tighearnaigh (UCD), D McSweeney (Shannon), J Boyle (UCD), J McNabney (Ballymena), S Wilson (QUB), J O'Sullivan (UCC), R O'Sullivan (Highfield), M Devine (Corinthians), C Tector (Lansdowne), A King (Clontarf), B Brownlee (Blackrock College), F Gibbons (UCD), P Campbell (Young Munster), D Hawkshaw (Belvedere College), E Coughlan (Shannon), C Mullins (Bristol Bears), T Butler (Garryowen), D O'Grady (UCD), D Squires (UCC), A Maher (Rockwell), S Mallon (UCD).