IRELAND U18 SCHOOLS head coach Noel McNamara has named a 26-man squad for the U18s International Series, which takes place in Wales from 8 April to 16 April.
Ireland will play Italy, England and hosts Wales across three match days.
Among the squad are a handful of familiar surnames, with Presentation Brothers College hooker Billy Scannell – younger brother of Munster duo Niall and Rory – included after helping PBC to the Munster Schools Senior Cup title.
St. Michael’s College pair David Ryan and Harry Byrne are also in the Ireland squad after impressive performances in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup this season.
Centre Ryan is the younger brother of the highly-rated Leinster lock James Ryan – who captained the Ireland U20s last year – while out-half Byrne’s older brother, Ross, has been starring in the 10 shirt for Leinster at senior level this year.
Roscrea loosehead prop Josh Wycherley is part of McNamara’s 26-man group too, with his older brother, Fineen, shining for the Ireland U20s this year and also making his Guinness Pro12 debut in the Munster second row last month.
Two of Scannell’s Cup-winning Pres team-mates will be involved in the International Series, with the impressive outside centre Seán French and fullback Jonathan Wren – a Crosshaven man – called up.
In total, the squad features 12 Leinster players, nine from Munster, four from Ulster and one from Connacht.
Ireland U18 School squad for International Series:
Azur Allison (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
Ryan Baird (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Eoin Barr (Gonzaga/Leinster)
Harry Byrne (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Craig Casey (Ard Scoil Ris/Munster)
Tom Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Fintan Coleman (Crescent College/Munster)
Cormac Foley (St. Gerard’s College/Leinster)
Seán French (PBC Cork/Munster)
Ben Healy (Glenstal Abbey/Munster)
Cian Hurley (CBC Cork/Munster)
Darragh Kelly (St. Fintan’s School/Leinster)
Angus Kernohan (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
Luke Masters (CBC Cork/Munster)
Niall McEniff (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
John McKee (Campbell College/Ulster)
Martin Moloney (Knockbeg/Leinster)
Stewart Moore (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
Niall Murray (St. Aloysius College/Connacht)
Dan O’Donovan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Scott Penny (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
David Ryan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Billy Scannell (PBC Cork/Munster)
Liam Turner (Blackrock College/ Leinster)
Jonathan Wren (PBC Cork/Munster)
Josh Wycherley (CC Roscrea/Munster)
Ireland U18 Schools fixtures:
Ireland v Italy U18, BT Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday 8 April, KO 5.15pm
Ireland v England U18, Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Wednesday 12 April, KO 5.15pm
Ireland v Wales U18, CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly
Sunday 16 April, KO 4.15pm
- This article was updated at 1.30pm to correct the numbers of players from each province, having previously indicated that there were none from Connacht.
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