Irish U20s set off for Argentina as World Cup looms

IRELAND’S Under-20 squad departed for Argentina yesterday for their IRB Junior World Championship campaign.

Coach Allen Clarke finalised his 26-man squad with the inclusion of Leinster’s David McSharry and Munster’s Brian O’Hara.

The squad took part in a final training session at the weekend in Johnstown where they were joined by sponsors PriceWaterhouseCoopers for a good luck lunch.

Ireland are in pool B with France, England and host nation Argentina. Ireland kick-off their tournament against France on Saturday. Irish pool fixtures will be broadcast live on Setanta.

Ireland squad: N Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), D Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht), P Butler (Shannon/Munster), B Cagney (UCC/Munster), A Conway (Blackrock/Leinster), J Cooney (UCD/Leinster), D Doyle (UCD/Leinster), E Griffin (Corinthians /Connacht), B Hayes (Cork Con/Munster), M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), D Hudson (St. Mary’s /Leinster), B Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), S Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster), B Marshall (UCD/Leinster), J McKinney (Queens/Ulster), David McSharry (UCD/Leinster), J Murphy (Blackrock/Leinster), D O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster), J O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster), T O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht), B O’Hara (UL Bohemian/Munster), N Reid (UCD/Leinster), R Ruddock (UCD/Leinster), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), N Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), S Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)

Fixtures: June 5: France v Ireland. June 9 – England v Ireland. Jun 13 – Argentina v Ireland.