RUGBY: The Ireland Under-21 squad to compete in the IRB Under-21 World Championship in Johannesburg leaves today with an air of optimism despite being placed in what looks like one of the toughest groups in the competition, writes Johnny Watterson.
Ireland first meet Australia next Friday afternoon in Wits University Stadium before playing Fiji at four days later at RAU Stadium in a mid-week match. The Ciarán Fitzgerald-coached side play South Africa in their final pool match on June 21st.
The squad contains a number of this season's outstanding All- Ireland League players, including UCD's Brian O'Riordan, who now has a Leinster contract, his outhalf colleague Eoghan Hickey and Galwegian full back and centre Gavin Duffy. Ballymena winger Scott Young, who was eye catching this season, also travels with loose forward team-mate Neil McMillen.
IRISH SQUAD: 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 McCullough (Ballymena), Neil McMillan (Ballymena), Sean Phillips (Saracens), Roger Wilson (Dublin University), Bryan Young (Ballymena). manager: D Haslett; coach: C Fitzgerald.
Pool games: June 14th - Ireland v Australia, Wits University Stadium, 3p.m. (local time); June 18th - Ireland v Fiji, RAU Stadium, 1p.m; June 21st - Ireland v South Africa, Ellis Park, 5p.m.
HOCKEY: Ireland's five-day training camp in Belgium opened with a 2-0 defeat by a Belgian national side, who were ranked 14th in the world earlier this year, writes Johnny Watterson.
Following on from the Celtic Cup success in Cardiff last weekend, Belgium represented a much tougher assignment as National coach John Clarke prepares to name his 18-man squad for the European Cup qualifiers in Dublin next month.
Cork C of I's John Jermyn picked up his first cap as Ireland were largely outplayed in the first of two internationals, goalkeeper Wes Bateman parrying an initial Belgian strike after 20 minutes before conceding on the rebound.
Belgium added their second from a short corner which glanced off the post. Despite some Irish chasing the home side emerged as convincing winners.
