The Ireland U20 rugby team begin their Six Nations campaign at home to Scotland tonight (Friday) at 7.15pm. Head Coach Noel McNamara has included one Connacht player in the starting team, Oran McNulty from Corinthians at full-back. The 19-year-old is in his second year with the Connacht academy after being recruited through IRFU’s IQ Rugby system which aims to identify Irish-qualified talent based away from these shores. A native of Mendip, England (near Bath), McNulty's father Dermot is from Cork.
Just five of last year's Grand Slam winning squad remain for Ireland, who beat Scotland 24-5 in Netherdale in round 2 last February.
IRELAND U-20: Oran McNulty (Millfield School/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Ethan McIlroy (Methody College/Queen's University RFC/Ulster), Dan Kelly (Kirkham Grammar/Loughborogh University/IQ Rugby), Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Andrew Smith (St. Michael's College/Clontarf FC/Leinster); Jack Crowley (Bandon RFC/Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Lewis Finlay (Down High School/Malone RFC/Ulster); Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Waterpark RFC/Shannon RFC/Munster), Sean O'Brien (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Hernan (St. Michael's College/Lansdowne FC/Leinster), David McCann (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster) (capt).
Replacements: John McKee (Campbell College/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ciaran Ryan (Rockwell College/Cashel RFC/Munster), Ryan McMahon (Clongowes Wood College/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Alexis Soroka (Belvedere College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Tim Corkery (Kilkenny RFC/Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Luis Faria (Newpark Comprehensive School/Dublin University FC/Leinster).
