Ireland name 28-man squad for World Rugby U20 Championship
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Ireland have named a 28-man squad for this summer's World Rugby U20 Championships in France.
St. Mary's College clubman Caelan Doris, who was awarded a senior contract by Leinster last week, will captain the side. The 20-year-old former Blackrock College student has shaken off a hamstring injury that saw him miss the entire U20 Six Nations Championship.
Doris received his first Leinster senior cap away to Connacht in the final round of the Guinness Pro 14 this season, coming off the bench for an impressive 19-minute cameo.
Ireland take on France in their opening match of the tournament at the Stade Aimee Giral in Perpignan on Wednesday, May 30th (8pm, Irish time) before facing the Junior Springboks in Narbonne on Sunday, June 3rd, (3.30pm, Irish time) and Georgia, Thursday, June 7th (5.30pm, Irish time). They will play a further two matches in a tournament that culminates on Sunday, June 17th.
Head coach Noel McNamara said: "It’s an exciting time for the players and management as we prepare to head to the south of France for the U20 World Championships. There’s a lot of talent in this squad and the players are all preparing well.
We’re up against three physical sides in our pool, and with France up first, it will be a great test for the players on the opening day of the tournament and something that everyone is looking forward to."
Ireland U-20 Squad (World Rugby U20 Championship 2018):
Forwards
Matthew Agnew (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Joe Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster) *
Matthew Dalton (Malone RFC/Ulster)
Cormac Daly (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) Captain
Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jack Dunne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Joe Dunleavy (Malone RFC/Ulster)
James French (UCC/Munster)
Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Tom O’Toole (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Jack O’Sullivan (UCC RFC/Munster)
Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Dan Sheehan (Dublin University FC/Leinster) *
Backs
Harry Byrne (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
Dan Hurley (Garryowen FC/Munster) *
James Hume (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Tom Roche (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) *
Michael Silvester (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Jonny Stewart (QUB RFC/Ulster)
Peter Sylvester (UCC RFC / Munster)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)
James McCarthy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
*Denotes uncapped at this level