Club international squad announced

A 49-man squad has been named to prepare for the first AIB Club International between Ireland and England Counties on Friday, February 23.

The side will play two games this season, at home against an England Counties XV and away to Scotland, who Ireland beat 30-13 last season in the first ever appearance of the AIB Club International side.

The same coaching set up is in charge as last season and will consist of coach Geoff Moylan (Buccaneers), manager Mick Galwey (Shannon), assistant coach Gerald McCarter (City of Derry) and assistant manager Donal Brennan.

Ireland Club squad:

Forwards:

Ron Boucher (Lansdowne), Frank Cogan (Cork Constitution), Kevin Corrigan (Lansdowne), Simon Crawford (Clontarf), Matthew Crockett (Dublin University), Owen Cullen (Blackrock), Conor Hartigan (Buccaneers), Oisin Hennessy (Dungannon), Les Hogan (Shannon), Ciaran Kavanagh (Suttonians), Brian Madigan (UL Bohemians), Alan Maher (Lansdowne), Peter Malone (Garryowen), Chris McCarey (Belfast Harlequins), Rory McGrath (Dolphin), Glen Moore (Ballymena), Des Murray (Cork Constitution), Mark Neilly (Dungannon), Stephen Nolan (Terenure College), Dan O'Connell (Galwegians), Merle O'Connell (Cork Constitution), Jim O'Donovan (Lansdowne), David Quinlan (Shannon), Simon Shawe (Ballymena), Damian Varley (Garryowen), Marc Warburton (Lansdowne).

Backs:

Kevin Barden (Old Belvedere), Anthony Barrett (Galwegians), Philip Brophy (St Mary's College), Mark Bruce (Buccaneers), Eoin Burke (Barnhall), Joey Burns (Dublin University), Francis Cooney (DLPS), Conor Donohue (Dublin University), Eamon Fitzgerald (Old Belvedere), Kevin Hartigan (Garryowen), Cronan Healy (Cork Constitution), Kieran Hickman (Galwegians), Barry Keeshan (Dolphin), Paul Magee (Dungannon), Richard McCarter (Dungannon), David McKechnie (Greystones), Niall McNamara (Clontarf), Niall O'Brien (Clontarf), Fiach O'Loughlin (Clontarf), Greg Stafford (Lansdowne), Dirk Strydom (Ballymena), Glen Telford (Dungannon), Andrew Thompson (Shannon).