The Irish selectors have named their Under-21 squad for next month’s World Championship in South Africa.
Coach Ciaran Fitzgerald’s 26-man party includes the exciting talent of Leinter’s new scrum-half Brian O’Riordan and is seeded sixth out of the 12 teams competing.
Ireland open their campaign with a tough test against Australia on June 14th before tackling Fiji four days later. The final pool match is against the hosts South Africa at Johannesburg’s magnificent Ellis Park stadium.
Backs: Paul Devlin (Sale), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians), Eoghan Hickey (UCD), Barry Lynn (St Mary's College), Martin McPhail (UL Bohemians), Conor McPhillips (St. Mary's College), Greg Mitchell (Ballymena), Frank Murphy (UCC), James Norton (St. Mary's College), Brian O'Riordan (UCD), Conrad O'Sullivan (UCC), Scott Young (Ballymena)
Forwards: Tim Barker (Dungannon), Rory Best (Newcastle), Michael Carroll (Blackrock College), Kevin Corrigan (UCD), Conor Hartigan (Shannon), Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College), Stephen Keogh (UCC), Denis Leamy (UCC), John Lyne (Lansdowne), Matthew Mc Cullough (Ballymena), Neil McMillan (Ballymena), Sean Phillips (Saracens), Roger Wilson (Dublin University), Bryan Young (Ballymena)