Talented squad face a stern opener

Under-20 World Cup:Luke Fitzgerald is the star name in the first Irish under-20 international team to take on Wales tomorrow evening at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. Highly-rated Ulster openside flanker David Pollack captains the side.

But Fitzgerald, who won a senior cap against the Pacific Islands last November, is joined in a back line full of strike runners, including Darren Cave and Keith Earls. Fitzgerald is joined by a team-mate from last season's Leinster schools' Cup-winning Blackrock team. Aidan Wynne has produced some eye-catching performances for Buccaneers in this season's All-Ireland League.

"We have a talented squad with many of them benefiting from the experience of the under-19 World Championships in Dubai last year," said coach Eric Elwood, who replaced Mark McDermott when the age structure changed from under-21.

"The championship certainly will test us as a squad and Wales as an opening game will be every bit as difficult for us," he added.

IRELAND UNDER-20:L Fitzgerald (Leinster); S Monahan (Leinster), D Cave (Ulster), A Wynne (Connacht), K Earls (Munster); I Keatley (Leinster), P O'Donohoe (Leinster); D Millard (Ulster), R Sweeney (Leinster), J Hagan (Leinster), C McInerney (Leinster), A Browne (Connacht), T Anderson (Ulster), D Pollock capt (Ulster), S O'Brien (Leinster). Replacements: G Slattery (Munster), R Murphy (Leinster), N Keogh (Munster), T O'Donnell (Munster), D Drake (Ulster), N O'Connor (Ulster), F Jones (Leinster). Manager: P Orr. Coach: E Elwood. Assistant coach: Dan McFarland.

SIX NATIONS UNDER-20 FIXTURES:Tomorrow: Wales v Ireland, Liberty Stadium, Swansea, 7.10pm. Friday, February 9th: Ireland v France, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.30pm. Friday, February 23rd: Ireland v England, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.30pm. Friday, March 9th: Scotland v Ireland, Falkirk Stadium, 7.30pm. Friday, March 16th: Italy v Ireland, Benevento, Santa Colomba Stadium, kick-off tbc