Ireland U-19 team announced

Following their 23-0 victory over Italy in their last outing, the Ireland U-19 coaching staff has today announced the team to play France in their second and final international of the season.

With no World Cup at this level this season, head coach Charlie McAleese and his coaching staff have worked closely with the provincial academies to continue the development of all the players involved.

While all 22 players made a significant contribution against Italy, the team for the French match shows four changes, with Jack McGrath, Thomas Sexton, Adam Macklin and Ian McKinley making their first start.

Centre Shane Gahan is ruled out through injury, so John O’Brien comes onto the bench. The team will again be captained by Munster’s Peter O’Mahoney.

Commenting on the selection, McAleese said: “While the result against Italy was encouraging, the most pleasing aspect of the game was what we got out of it from a development perspective. Despite the gale force conditions the team units and all 22 players performed to a high level.

“Saturday’s opponents will provide a very different test. We have made a few changes to the starting line-up which we feel will give us the best platform on which to build another creditable performance to which all squad members can contribute.”

The Ireland U-19 team to play France U-19 in Jules Ladoumegue Stadium, Massey, Paris on Saturday, April 5 at 5pm is as follows:

15 - David McIlwaine (QUB/Ulster)

14 - Johnny Shields (Coleraine AI/Ulster)

13 - Gary Foley (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)

12 - Ian McKinley (St Columba’s College /Leinster)

11 - Kyle Kirkpatrick (Ards/Ulster)

10 - Andrew Burke (Crescent College/Munster)

9 - Conor Murray (Young Munster/Munster)

1 - Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster)

2 - Thomas Sexton (Belvedere College/Leinster)

3 - Adam Macklin (Methody College Belfast/Ulster)

4 - Ciaran Ruddock (Neath/Exiles)

5 - Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster)

6 - Peter O’Mahoney Captain (PBC Cork/Munster)

7 - Sean Dougall (Barnard Castle/Exiles)

8 - Michael Noone (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

17 - Gavin Duffy UCC/Munster)

18 - Alan Whitten (Instonians/Ulster)

19 - Shane Grannell (CBC Monkstown/Leinster)

20 - Matt Healey (Lansdowne/Leinster)

21 - John O’Brien (Connemara/Connaught)

22 - David Funston (City of Derry/Ulster).