Ireland still rely on school supply

UNDER-18 SIX NATIONS FESTIVAL: THE UNDER-18 Six Nations Festival begins in Cork tomorrow with the tournament taking place at four venues in Cork, Temple Hill, the Mardyke, Musgrave Park and the Cork Institute of Technology over the next week.

Quite apart from a fractured format - each of the six competing countries plays three matches - it's interesting to note the manner in which the squads are listed. Players from England, France and Wales are all affiliated to professional academies whereas the Ireland squad is drawn from schools.

The Irish youths team, drawn from clubs, performed very capably in Italy last week, reaching the final of the tournament before losing to France for the second year in succession having earlier beaten Russia and England. It was also the second time they beat the English at the penultimate stage.

There has been a big shift in emphasis in terms of structures in England, France and Wales in recent years whereby these elite players in action this week in Cork while playing for their schools also train and line out with clubs. In Ireland there is still ring fencing around schools' players on junior and senior squads precluding them from playing club rugby.

The selection of the Ireland squad is not illustrative of the recently concluded four provincial senior cups. There are no representatives from the Leinster or Connacht champions while Ulster winners Methody managed a couple in centre Michael Allen and Niall Annett. Diarmaid McCarthy is the only member of the Munster title holders Castletroy College.

In mitigation there would have been very little time to prepare the Ireland squad if awaiting the conclusion of the provincial cups and so several players who thrived at the latter end of those competitions have missed out as a result. The Irish Schools recent played their national under-19 counterparts in a conditioned match.

Methody centre Allen, who scored two tries in the Ulster final, looks a real prospect as does Castletroy's McCarthy in what should be a lively backline. St Mary's College wing Ray Crotty, who came off injured in the Leinster decider against Belvedere College with a hamstring injury, is included in the squad.

The Irish side, coached by Peter Melia and assisted by Paul Barr, will face Wales in their first match at Musgrave Park tomorrow night before taking on Scotland and Italy in subsequent matches. It's a pity that many of the matches within the tournament are scheduled to take place at the same time in different venues.

An independent training facility has been assigned to each team throughout the next week. Scotland will be based at Crosshaven RFC, Italy at Ballincollig RFC, Wales at UCC RF, England at Highfield RFC, France at CBC Cork and Ireland will conduct their preparations at PBC Cork.

Ireland panel

Michael Allen, Niall Annett (both Methodist College), Marl Atkinson (Grosvenor GS), Richard Bent, Ray Crotty (St Mary's College), Jason Bloomfield (Coleraine Academical Institution), Denis Buckley (Blackrock College), Patrick Butler (Rockwell College), Risteard Byrne (Terenure College), Brian Cagney, David O'Driscoll, Brian O'Hara (PBC Cork), Diarmaid McCarthy (Castletroy College), Brian Hayes (CBC Cork), Michael Kelleher (St Munchin's College), Ben Marshall (St Andrew's College), Luke Marshall (Ballymena Academy), James McKinney (Campbell College), David McSharry (Templeogue College), Martin Moore (Castleknock College), David O'Callaghan (Midleton College), Luke O'Connell (Clongowes Wood College), Paul Pritchard (Ballymena Academy), Noel Reid (St Michael's College), Dominic Ryan (Gonzaga College), Gavin Nugent (PBC).

Tournament fixture schedule

Tomorrow: England v Italy, Temple Hill, Cork (5pm); France v Scotland, CIT (5pm); Ireland v Wales, Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

Saturday: England v France, CIT (2.30pm); Ireland v Scotland Musgrave Park (2.30pm); Italy v Wales, Mardyke (2.30pm).

Tuesday, April 1st: Ireland v Italy, Mardyke (2.30pm); Scotland v England, Musgrave Park (2.30pm); Wales v France, Temple Hill (2.30pm).