AIB club international team to play England Counties announced

The Ireland team to play England Counties in the AIB Club International on Friday, February 23 has been named today at a media conference in Dublin.

The game is part of the IRFU Community Rugby Programme and gives non-contracted club players the opportunity to win representative honours for Ireland and to showcase the club game at the highest possible level.

The game will also be televised live by RTE with a 7.05pm kick-off. The AIB Club International side will also play an away fixture against a similar Scotland selection on the eve of the Scotland vs Ireland Championship game next month.

The only outstanding selection issue is at inside centre, where the management is waiting on Glen Telford to prove his fitness. If Telford does not pass a fitness test, then Philip Brophy will start the game.

The team will be captained by David Quinlan from Shannon.

IRELAND (v England Counties):

15 - Richard McCarter (Dungannon)

14 - Niall O'Brien (Clontarf)

13 - Kevin Hartigan (Garryowen)

12 - Glen Telford (Dungannon)/Philip Brophy (St.Mary's College)

11 - Cronan Healy (Cork Constitution)

10 - Andrew Thompson (Shannon)

9 - Fiach O'Loughlin (Clontarf)

1 - Dan O'Connell (Galwegian)

2 - Matthew Crockett (Dublin University)

3 - Simon Shawe (Ballymena)

4 - Merle O'Connell (Cork Constitution)

5 - Alan Maher (Lansdowne)

6 - Peter Malone (Garryowen)

7 - Conor Hartigan (Buccaneers)

8 - David Quinlan (Shannon)