Ireland Under-20s head coach Noel McNamara cannot wait to see what his side can offer in this year’s Under-20s Six Nations after naming a 40-man squad for the 2019 Championship.
Five players with previous experience of Under-20s duty both in last year’s Championship and the World Rugby U20 World Championships are included. They are Harry Byrne, Angus Kernohan and James McCarthy in the backs and Dylan Tierney-Martin and Charlie Ryan up front.
Ryan is named as one of the squad’s vice-captains alongside Craig Casey while skippering the group is David Hawkshaw.
The squad claimed warm up wins before Christmas over Leinster and Munster’s development sides and open up their Championship next Friday against England.
Their new home for their Championship fixtures is Irish Independent Park and McNamara is confident his squad can shine after last year’s third-place finish.
“It’s always an exciting time when the Six Nations comes around and things have been building well since before Christmas,” he said.
“We had two good run outs against Leinster and Munster Development sides where the players had the opportunity to put their hands up for selection for this squad.
“We also have a new home this season in Irish Independent Park, which is a great venue and I’m sure there will be a superb atmosphere when we welcome England and France under lights on Friday evenings.”
Ireland squad for the U20 Six Nations Championship 2019
Forwards: Azur Allison (Ballymena RFC/Ulster) Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster) Tom Clarkson (Dublin University FC/Leinster) Giuseppe Coyne (Dublin University FC/Leinster) Brian Deeney (Clontarf FC/Leinster) John Hodnett (UCC RFC/Munster) Paddy Kelly (Young Munster RFC/Munster) Ryan Lomas (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) Luke Masters (Shannon RFC/Munster) David McCann (Banbridge RFC/Ulster) JJ McKee (Ballymena RFC/Ulster) John McKee (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) Michael Milne (UCD RFC/Leinster) Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) Niall Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht) Scott Penny (UCD RFC/Leinster) Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster) * Vice-Captain Billy Scannell (Young Munster RFC/Munster) Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians RFC/Connacht) * Ronan Watters (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) Josh Wycherley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
Backs: Harry Byrne (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) * Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster) Vice-Captain Jake Flannery (Shannon RFC/Munster) Sean French (Cork Constitution RFC/Munster) Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) David Hawkshaw (Clontarf FC/Old Belvedere) Captain Ben Healy (Garryowen RFC/Munster) Bruce Houston (Ballymena RFC/Ulster) Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University RFC / Ulster) * James McCarthy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) * Stewart Moore (Malone RFC/Ulster) Oli Morris (Saracens / IQ Rugby) Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD RFC/Leinster/IQ Rugby) Conor Phillips (Young Munster RFC/Munster) Colm Reilly (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht) Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster) Liam Turner (Dublin University FC/Leinster) Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
*Denotes Previously Capped at U20 level
