Captain Ruddock among seven to return for Ireland U20s

There are seven players returning from last year for the Ireland Under 20s in their Six Nations Championship opener against Italy in Dubarry Park on Friday night (K.O. 7.35pm).

Centre Nevin Spence, scrum-half John Cooney, prop Jack O'Connell, lock David O'Callaghan, flankers Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock and lock Brian Hayes will bring their experience to the contest.

Ruddock, the son of Worcester coach Mike, will captain Ireland as they seek to improve on their runner-up finish last season.

IRELAND U20 (v Italy U120):

15 Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)

14 Darren Hudson (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

13 Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)

12 Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

11 Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)

10 James McKinney (Queens University/Ulster)

9 John Cooney (UCD /Leinster)

1 Brian Cagney (UCC/Munster)

2 Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

3 Jack O'Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster)

4 David O'Callaghan (UCC/Munster)

5 Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster)

6 Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster)

7 Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

8 Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements-

16 David Doyle (UCD/Leinster)

17 Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)

18 Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster)

19 Robin O' Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster)

20 Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

21 Brian Kingston (Blackrock/Leinster)

22 Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht)