Irish U19 team to face NZ named

The Ireland Under 19 team & replacements to play their opening game in the IRB Under 19 World Championship against New Zealand Under 19 on Saturday, March 27 in Durban, South Africa has been named.

15. Fionn Carr (Newbridge College)

14. Jamie McGrugan (Ballymena)

13. Mark Scott (Belfast Harlequins)

12. Stewart Megaw (Queens University)

11. Eamon Fitzgerald (Old Belvedere)

10. Conor Gildea (Terenure College)

9. Cillian Willis (UCD)

1. Killian O’Neill (Dublin University)

2. Gary Moran (UCD)

3. Paul Doran-Jones (Dublin University)

4. Ross Noonan (UCC)

5. Billy Holland (CBC)

6. Michael Essex (CBC) CAPTAIN

7. John McCall (Royal School Armagh)

8. Stephen Ferris (Portadown)

Replacements:

16. John Kerins (UCC), 17. Matt Moloney (UCC), 18. Gary Mitchell (RBAI), 19. David McGowan (Sligo), 20. Peter Phelan (Exiles), 21. Colin Mahony (Highfield), 22. Cian McNaughton (Greystones), 23. Kevin Barden (Belvedere College), 24. Mark Connaughty (Ballymena Academy), 25. Gary Byrne (Terenure College), 26. Conor Lavery (Rainey Endowed School).

Fergus McGuckian (Dublin University) withdrew from the squad due to an ankle injury sustained last weekend and has been replaced by Mark Connaughty (Ballymena Academy).