IRELAND UNVEIL STARTING SIDE TO FACE ITALY IN THEIR WORLD U20 RUGBY OPENER
![]()
IRELAND HAVE NAMED their starting side for Saturday’s World Rugby U20 championship opener agaisnt Italy in Cape Town.
Head coah Willie Faloon has revealed his selection for the Pool B opener at the DHL Stadium, with Evan O’Connell captaining the side from the second row, where he will partner Alan Spicer.
Ben O’Connor is at full-back, while Jack Murphy and Oliver Coffey are the half-back pair.
Connacht’s Max Flynn will make his U20 debut at openside, while Jake O’Riordan is another newcomer amongst the replacements.
Brian Gleeson is a notable absentee, while Hugh Gavin, a standout performer in the Six Nations earlier this year, is on the bench.
Kick-off is 3.30pm (Irish time).
Ireland Men’s U20s (v Italy)
15. Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster) - 14. Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
- 13. Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
- 12. Sam Berman (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
- 11. Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
- 10. Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
- 9. Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
1. Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster) - 2. Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
- 3. Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
- 4. Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster)
- 5. Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (captain)
- 6. Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
- 7. Max Flynn (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)*
- 8. Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Replacements:
16. Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster) - 17. Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC/Munster)
- 18. Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster)
- 19. James McKillop (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
- 20. Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
- 21. Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
- 22. Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
- 23. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
2024-06-27T15:13:39Z dg43tfdfdgfd