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Wing Calvin Nash scores a try against Scotland at Coolmine RFC. Kieran Murray/INPHO
Talent

Ireland Schools name exciting squad for FIRA U18 European Championships

Head coach Noel McNamara has retained the same players who earned a 26-6 win over Scotland recently.

IRELAND U18 SCHOOLS have announced their 26-man squad to take part in the FIRA U18 European Championships from the 11th to 19th of April in Poland.

Head coach Noel McNamara has called on the same players who powered to an impressive 26-6 victory over Scotland at Coolmine RFC two weekends ago. Indeed, of the squad selected for that clash, only Campbell College prop Elliott Boyd drops out.

The likes of Blackrock fullback Jack Power, St. Michael’s second row James Ryan and outside centre Jacob Stockdale of Wallace High School stood out in the Scotland fixture, and McNamara will hope to see them lead the challenge in Poland.

Three second half tries were the difference at Coolmine last time out, with a strong team display after the break being supplemented by the bench impact of players such as PBC’s Paul Kiernan and Calvin Nash of Crescent College.

Ireland will take part in the Elite Division of the FIRA championships, getting their three-game campaign underway against Georgia this Friday in Opalenica. A victory in that match would set up a clash with the winner of the France v Italy tie on the 15th of April.

McNamara and his team will then prepare for a final fixture on the 19th of April, where they will play-off for a final tournament ranking. The other teams in the Elite Division are England, Scotland, Wales and Portugal [as well as Georgia, France and Italy].

Ireland Schools fixtures at the FIRA U18 European Championships:

  • Ireland v Georgia, Friday 11th April 2014, Opalenica, KO 14.00 [13.00 Irish Time]
  • Ireland v TBC, Tuesday 15th April 2014, TBC, KO TBC
  • Ireland v TBC, Saturday 19th April 2014, TBC, KO TBC

Ireland U18 Schools Squad:

Peter Claffey (Garbally/Connacht), Will Connors (Clongowes/Leinster), Charlie Cregan (St Michaels/Leinster), Max Deegan (St Michaels/Leinster), David Duggan (St Michaels/Leinster), Matthew Gilsenan (St Michaels/Leinster), Johnny Guy (St Andrews/Leinster), Greg Jones (St Andrews/Leinster), Hugo Kean (Blackrock/Leinster), Conor Kenny (Garbally/Connacht), Paul Kiernan (Presentation/Munster), Jordan Larmour (St Andrews/Leinster), Conor McIlmurray (Campbell/Ulster), Alan McMahon (Rockwell/Munster), John Molony (Clongowes/Leinster), Colm Mulcahy (Clongowes/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Crescent/Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Newbridge/Leinster), Sean O’Connor (Rockwell/Munster), Conan O’Donnell (Summerhill/Connacht), Oisin O’Meara (St Michaels/Leinster), Rowan Osborne (Clongowes/Leinster), Andrew Porter (St Andrews/Leinster), Jack Power (Blackrock/Leinster), James Ryan (St Michaels/Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Wallace/Ulster).

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