Some of the best young backs in the world will be in the Ireland team at the U20 World Cup

Head coach Nigel Carolan has selected a strong squad for the tournament in Italy.

AFTER TWO GAMES of Ireland’s U20 Six Nations campaign this season, the Grand Slam was definitely on.

With two big wins over Italy and France on the board, Nigel Carolan’s attack minded side looked primed to complete the job in their remaining three fixtures. But their promising start quickly turned disastrous as Ireland lost to England, Wales and Scotland to finish the campaign in fifth.

Carolan today named his squad for this summer’s Junior World Cup in Italy and while his side didn’t reach their potential in the Six Nations, they are definitely good enough to match last year’s fourth place finish at the tournament.

Two players, Charlie Rock and Sean McNulty, have been picked in the 28-man squad despite not playing in the Six Nations this year while their are eight survivors from last year’s World Cup team.

Out-half Ross Byrne, fullback Billy Dardis and centre Garry Ringrose are three members of that experienced core who will be key men for Ireland.

Ireland are in a pool with New Zealand, Argentina and Scotland and their first game is against the Puma’s on 2 June.

Here is the squad in full:

Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
Lorcan Dow (QUB/Ulster)
Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)
Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
Zack McCall (QUB/Ulster)
Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
Conán O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
David O’Connor (St.Mary’s/Leinster)
Conor Oliver (St.Mary’s/Leinster)
Jack Owens (Queens University/Ulster)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jacob Stockdale (QUB/Ulster)
Alex Thompson (Queens University/Ulster)
Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s/Leinster)

Some of the best young backs in the world will be in the Ireland team at the U20 World Cup

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