Ireland name U20 squad for Junior World Championships

Paul Ryan will lead the Ireland U20 team as part of a 26-man squad for the upcoming inaugural IRB Junior World Championships to take place in Wales in June.

Ireland coach Eric Elwood has picked a squad dominated by players who took part in the recent U20 Six Nations Championship and his side will open their account against Argentina on June 6, in Cardiff. This will be the first of their Pool A games that will be followed up by playing New Zealand and then the South Sea Island nation of Tonga, with the top two teams qualifying for the knockout stages.

Commenting on the tournament, Coach Eric Elwood said: "Like all tournaments, the first game is pivotal. Argentina is a key game for us as they always have a strong and talented side at this level. If we can get a positive result in that game, it can put us in a good position to qualify out of our group.

"Our next game against New Zealand is a whole different challenge and with the standard of players that they have in their squad, they always seem to start these tournaments as favourites. After that we have another physical game on our hands against Tonga, so they do not get any easier for us".

The Ireland squad will take part in a training game against their Scotland counterparts in Ravenhill this Friday evening (K.O. 6.30pm) and the match will be free entry for fans to watch Elwood's team make their final preparations for the tournament.

The Ireland squad will then take on an Ireland U23/Churchill Cup team to allow both sides prepare for their respective tournaments in June.

Ireland Squad:

Forwards (14):

Stephen Archer (UCC/Munster)

Ben Barclay (UCD/ Leinster)

Stephen Douglas (Ballymena/Ulster)

Michael Entwistle (Ballymena/Ulster)

Kieran Essex (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)

Jason Harris Wright (Greystones/Leinster)

Conor Higgins (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Paul Karayiannis (QUB/Ulster)

Patrick Mallon (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Ian Nagle (UCC/Munster)

David Nolan (Galwegians/Connacht)

Paul Ryan Captain (Blackrock College/Leinster)

James Sandford (QUB/Ulster)

Eoin Sheriff (Lansdowne/Leinster)