HEAD COACH MARK Butler has named his Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools squad for two clashes with England Counties this week.
Whereas previously Ireland operated with completely separate Schools and Clubs sides at U18 level, they moved to a combined model last year, essentially naming Ireland ‘A’ and Ireland ‘B’ squads that featured players from both sources, as well as the Exiles.
However, this year has seen the return of the Ireland U18 Schools side, which is currently in Wales competing in the International Series.
Although operating under the ‘Schools’ moniker, the squad does include two clubs players in Buccaneers man Niall Murray and Athy RFC’s Martin Moloney.
Butler’s 24-man Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools squad is made up of the best clubs players in the country, as well as schools players who missed out on being selected to travel to Wales with the Ireland U18 Schools side.
There are also six Exiles players in the squad, a fine reward for the ever-improving work of that branch of the IRFU.
The Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools squad will face England Counties tomorrow and on Saturday at Ashbourne RFC, with both games kicking off at 2pm.
Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools squad:
Darragh Bolger (Clontarf FC / Portmarnock Community School / Leinster)
Ashley Deane (Bandon Grammar / Munster)
Colin Deane (Bandon Grammar / Munster)
Kieran Dunne (Sale Sharks / Exiles)
Caolan Englefield (Harlequin FC / St. Paul’s CC, Sunbury / Exiles)
Luke Fitzgerald (Young Munster / Glenstal Abbey / Munster)
Mark Fleming (Glenstal Abbey / Munster)
Bruce Huston (Ballymena Academy / Ulster)
Cian Huxford (Galway Corinthians / Calasantius College / Connacht)
Conor Kelly (CC Roscrea / Leinster)
Paddy Kelly (St.Munchin’s College / Munster)
Oisin Kiernan (Campbell College Belfast / Ulster)
Hugh Lane (Galwegians / Presentation College Athenry / Connacht)
Jamie Macartney (Campbell College Belfast / Ulster)
Tom Maher (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Jack McIntosh (St.Pius Xavier College / Rainey RFC / Ulster)
Conor McMenamin (Letterkenny RFC / Colaiste Ailigh / Ulster)
Oran McNulty (Bath RFC / Millfield / Exiles)
Sean Molony (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Wasps / Henley College / Exiles)
Aaron Sexton (Bangor Grammar School / Ulster)
Colin Sisk (CBC Cork / Munster)
Callum Torpey (London Irish RFC / Epsom College / Exiles)
Jack Walters (London Irish / St. Paul’s CC, Sunbury / Exiles)
Ireland U18 Clubs and Schools fixtures:
Ireland v England Counties, Ashbourne RFC
Wednesday 12 April, KO 2pm
Ireland v England Counties, Ashbourne RFC
Saturday 15 April, KO 2pm
