Under 18s Schools Squad named

[Donny B.]

The Ireland Under-18 Schools squad, sponsored by PwC, to take part in this year's FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship has been named.

Share Head coach Terry McMaster has selected a 26-strong squad for the tournament, which will be played in the Armagnac-Bigorre region of France between April 15 and 24.
For the first time, all of the Six Nations countries are taking part, joining 22 other teams from across Europe in their annual Championship.

Ireland qualified for the elite pool of the tournament which also includes England, Wales and France. The team booked their place with a well-merited 31-12 win over the Scotland Under-18s in Glasgow earlier this month.

The U-18 Schools squad will start the tournament with a semi-final against host team France in Auch this coming Sunday.

The winners of that game will progress to the final with the losers taking part in a 3rd/4th place play-off against the other losing semi-finalists.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Squad (Justin Bridou FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship, Armagnac/Bigorre, April 15-24):

Backs (12) -

Christopher Farrell (Campbell College)
Jack Fitzpatrick (Gonzaga College)
Seamus Glynn (Presentation Brothers, Cork)
Rob Henshaw (Marist College, Athlone)
Conor McEllin (Blackrock College)
Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College)
Cian O'Halloran (Christian Brothers, Cork)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Royal Academy)
Mark Roche (Blackrock College)
Rory Scannell (Presentation Brothers, Cork)
Rory Scholes (Campbell College)
David Shanahan (Belvedere College)

Forwards (14) -

Mark Best (Campbell College)
Bryan Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
Edward Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
Gordon Frayne (Clongowes Wood College)
Thomas Ferrari (Sligo Grammar School)
Donagh Lawler (St. Michael's College)
Dan Leavy (St. Michael's College)
Andrew Murphy (St. Michael's College)
Ryan Murphy (Presentation Brothers, Cork)
Jack O'Neill (Castleknock College)
Luke Satchwell (The King's Hospital)
Jerry Sexton (St. Mary's College)
Christopher Taylor (Wallace High School)
Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College)

Ireland U-18 Schools Management Team:

Terry McMaster - Head Coach
Kenny Hooks - Assistant Coach
Paul Barr - Assistant Coach
Lorcan Balfe - Team Manager
Chris Shields - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Ozzie Fogarty - Team Doctor
David Lyons - Team Physio
Vinny Hammond - Team Analyst

[Eristic]

It's a strange format for a tournament, from the way it sounds they're straight into a semi final of a new one rather than qualifying out of a pool for knockouts.
It'll be tough anyway.

[true blue 06]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/22963.php

ireland beat france

[Dexter]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/22963.php

ireland beat france

Heard this yesterday but didn't know the score. Great result and well done!

[Donny B.]

Good stuff. Dan Leavy with the try and Luke McGrath is a goal-kicker too!!

Hope these two are fasttracked into the Leinster academy.

[true blue 06]

leavy only just turned 17, he has another year left in school and he'll still be quite young but he is an incredible talent. luke mcgrath will be academy at least, they would be stupid not to give him development contract i think, there's been a lot of interest in him by welsh, english and french clubs

[Donny B.]

leavy only just turned 17, he has another year left in school and he'll still be quite young but he is an incredible talent. luke mcgrath will be academy at least, they would be stupid not to give him development contract i think, there's been a lot of interest in him by welsh, english and french clubs

Fair enough, but they should be talking to Leavy about his future with Leinster already cause there will be foreign clubs interested in him too. McGrath could do a Luke and skip the academy.

[true blue 06]

ye, leicester were apparently interested in leavy after the ireland schools game in january

[Eristic]

Is McGrath that good that we'll have to lose either POD or Cooney to make room for him? Without having seen him I'd say (given his age as well) he'd be in the academy to start.

[true blue 06]

i'd say POD will go to be honest. he's had his chances and his contract is up. he's a decent player that could do well in england

[Donny B.]

ye, leicester were apparently interested in leavy after the ireland schools game in january

Not surprised, he was outstanding in that match. Bossed a much bigger England backrow.

[Donny B.]

i'd say POD will go to be honest. he's had his chances and his contract is up. he's a decent player that could do well in england

Think his contract is up at the end of the season and he wants to go anyway.

[Donny B.]

Finally, Irish supporters will be able to follow the fortunes of the Ireland Schools team in their FIRA AER Championship final against England in Tarbes, France, on Saturday evening (5.30, Irish time).

The match will be shown live on Eurosport 2, which is available on the UPC and Sky platforms.

[true blue 06]

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Team & Replacements (v England Under-18s, FIRA-AER U-18 European Championship final, Stade Maurice Trelut, Tarbes, Saturday, April 23, kick-off 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time):

15 - Rory Scholes (Campbell College)
14 - Conor McEllin (Blackrock College)
13 - Robert Henshaw (Marist College, Athlone)
12 - Chris Farrell (Campbell College)
11 - Mark Roche (Blackrock College)
10 - Stuart Olding (Belfast Royal Academy)
9 - Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College) (capt)
1 - Gordon Frayne (Clongowes Wood College)
2 - Bryan Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
3 - Edward Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
4 - Jerry Sexton (St. Mary's College)
5 - Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College)
6 - Donagh Lawler (St. Michael’s College)
7 - Dan Leavy (St. Michael’s College)
8 - Ryan Murphy (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)

Replacements:

16 - Andrew Murphy (St. Michael’s College)
17 - Thomas Ferrari (Sligo Grammar School)
18 - Chris Taylor (Wallace High School)
19 - Luke Satchwell (The King’s Hospital)
20 - Mark Best (Campbell College)
21 - Jack O’Neill (Castleknock College)
22 - David Shanahan (Belvedere College)
23 - Rory Scannell (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)
24 - Jack Fitzpatrick (Gonzaga College)
25 - Cian O'Halloran (Christian Brothers College, Cork)
26 - Seamus Glynn (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)

Ireland U-18 Schools Management Team:

Terry McMaster - Head Coach
Kenny Hooks - Assistant Coach
Paul Barr - Assistant Coach
Lorcan Balfe - Team Manager
Chris Shields - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Ozzie Fogarty - Team Doctor
David Lyons - Team Physio
Vinny Hammond - Team Analyst
Jessica O'Brien - Team Co-ordinator

[Donny B.]

Great start by Ireland 6-0 up after 12 minutes. Two McGrath kicks

[Donny B.]

Aww, winger McEllin drops ball on the line!

[Donny B.]

Try Ireland. Thankfully it was McEllin, who missed the one earlier.

McGrath just missed the touchline con but is having a stormer.

[Donny B.]

England get a pen, 11-3 up now.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Anyone know who the co-commentator is? He sounds familiar but I can't think who it is and I'm very impressed by his lack of bias! Have only been watching for a few mins but McGrath and Leavy have been brilliant from the little I've seen.

[Donny B.]

Sounds like Roger Uttley.

17-3 now with ten to go and England have a man in the bin.