Star Noonan to miss build-up for World Cup

THE Irish U19's begin their preparations for the World Cup in South Africa against Wales at Musgrave Park tonight, (7.30pm).

The Irish, coached by the former Shannon and Munster full-back Pat Murray, will be without injured star second-row Ross Noonan, but the team includes three other members of last year's Munster Senior Schools Cup winning side, Michael Essex and Billy Holland, and out-half Eamonn Ronan.

(IRELAND U19 v Wales U19): C Gildea, (Terenure College), C O'Sullivan, (Greystones), M Scott, (Belfast Harlequins), S Megaw, (QUB), E Fitzgerald, (Old Belvedere), E Ronan, (Middleton), C Willis, (UCD), M Diffley, (Creggs), J Kerins, (UCC) (C), P Doran-Jones, (DU), B Holland, (CBC), C Lavery, (Rainey Endowed School), M Essex, (CBC), J McCall, (Royal School Armagh), A Lightowler, (Greystones).