Rugby:Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy return from Magners League duty with Ulster and take their place in the Ireland under-20 starting line-up to take on Wales in their penultimate Six Nations game on Friday.
Marshall will partner Alex Kelly in the centre and Gilroy comes in on the right wing with JJ Hanrahan and Tiernan O’Halloran named on the bench.
“We saw a big improvement, particularly in terms of our line speed in defence and in the collision which we dominated a lot more than we did against France,” said coach Mike Ruddock in reference to their 15-0 win over Scotland last time out.
“That gives us some confidence going to Wales. It will be extremely tough against the Welsh side as they seem to be playing with great confidence. We need to ensure our defence is spot on and take our chances when they come along.”
Kick-off at Parc y Scarlets on Friday is 7.10pm.
The Ulster Bank Club International team to play their Scotland counterparts at Netherdale on Friday was also named today. The team contains five new caps in the starting XV and will be captained by Cork Constitution’s Frank Cogan.
Barry Keeshan will start at outhalf and is partnered by Matt D’Arcy of St. Mary’s who wins his first cap at this level.
Evan Ryan of Clontarf and Dolphin’s Eric Moloney will form an experienced centre partnership while Old Belvedere’s try machine David Mongan earns his first cap with Galwegians’ John Cleary on the wing. John O’Brien of Buccaneers is another new cap at fullback.
Up front Richie Sweeney is rewarded for his form for St. Mary’s in the domestic League and is named at hooker with John Ryan (UCC) and Christy Condon (Dolphin) completing the frontrow.
Philip Donnellan (UCC) and Clontarf’s Simon Crawford are named in the secondrow. The backrow is a highly experienced unit with former Club International captain Hugh Hogan packing down alongside Barry O’Mahony and Cork Con skipper Frank Cogan, who has been in impressive form this season, leading the side.
Friday’s game will be the fifth encounter between the two sides who have two home wins apiece. Kick-off at Netherdale is 7.30pm.
Ireland Women’s coach Philip Doyle also named his starting XV to take on Scotland and has made three changes to the side that lost to England last time out.
Lauren Day and Carol Staunton make their return in the frontrow and backrow respectively. Laura Guest will partner Marie Louise Reilly in the secondrow.
Ailis Egan comes onto the replacements bench as Doyle seeks aims to give more players experience at this level. Heather O’Brien also takes her place on the bench.
“The squad are looking forward to this weekend’s test. Wales away is always a strong challenge and we are under no illusions about the strength of this Welsh side,” said Doyle.
“We have had good results so far in the tournament and are striving for another positive result this weekend.”
Sunday’s game at Cross Keys RFC, Gwent kicks-off at 2.30pm.
Ireland under-20 team (v Wales under-20):Mike Sherlock (Clontarf - Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon - Ulster), Alex Kelly (UCD - Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ballymena - Ulster), Andrew Boyle (UCD - Leinster), Patrick Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster), Blane McIlroy (Ballymena - Ulster), James Tracy (UCD - Leinster), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne - Leinster), Michael Kearney (Clontarf - Leinster), Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht), Shane Buckley (Garryowen - Munster), Aaron Conneely (Corinthians - Connacht), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne - Leinster) . Replacements:David Doyle (UCD - Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf - Leinster), Iain Henderson (Queens - Ulster), Cathal O'Flaherty (Cork Con - Munster), Mark Dolan (Corinthians - Connacht), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians - Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians - Connacht)
Ireland Club team (v Scotland Club):John O'Brien (Buccaneers), John Cleary (Galwegians), Eric Moloney (Dolphin), Evan Ryan (Clontarf), David Mongan (Old Belvedere), Barry Keeshan (Dolphin), Matthew D'Arcy (St. Mary's College), John Ryan (UCC), Richie Sweeney (St. Mary's College), Christy Condon (Dolphin), Philip Donnellan (UCC), Simon Crawford (Clontarf), Hugh Hogan (St. Mary's College), Barry O'Mahony (Clontarf), Frank Cogan (Cork Constitution). Replacements:Ciaran Kavanagh (Clontarf), Ger Slattery (Young Munster), Liam Og Murphy (Young Munster), Damian Hall (St. Mary's College), Gerard Hurley (Cork Constitution), Alan Kingsley (Young Munster), Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch)
Ireland Women team (v Wales):Niamh Briggs (Clonmel - Munster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian - Munster), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond - Exile), Geraldine Rea (Highfield - Munster), Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemian - Munster), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere - Leinster), Amy Davis (Blackrock - Leinster),Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemian - Leinster), Gillian Bourke (Bristol - Munster), Lauren Day (Waterloo - Ulster), Laura Guest (Highfield - Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere - Leinster), Carol Staunton (Galwegians - Connacht), Claire Molloy (Bristol - Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemian - Munster). Replacements: Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry - Ulster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere - Leinster), Dee O'Brien (Blackrock - Leinster), Heather O'Brien (Highfield - Munster), Larissa Muldoon (UWIC - Exile), Gillian Nolan (St Marys - Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond - Leinster)
