Athlone set for another titanic rugby tussle as Wales come to town

 

THE international rugby action continues apace in Athlone’s Dubarry Park this coming Friday, February 7 - when Ireland take on Junior World Cup runners-up Wales in the second of their Electric Ireland home series matches in the RBS U20 Six Nations Championship (7.35pm).

Wales overcame Italy 26-9 in the Principality last weekend, but it was not entirely all one way, despite the Welsh lording the possession stakes.

Irish head coach Mike Ruddock (a former Wales head coach at senior level) has made one change to the Ireland team that defeated Scotland, 34-7, at the Athlone venue last Friday. Cian Kelleher comes in on the right wing in place of Adam Byrne, while Ireland’s man-of-the-match against Scotland, number 8 Jack O’Donoghue, has recovered from the knock he took late in the opening fixture to take his place in the back row.

O’Donoghue, who touched down twice against the Scots, will reprise his back-row partnership with fellow try scorer Peadar Timmins and team captain Dan Leavy.

Vice-captain Ross Byrne kicked 14 points in the opening game and retains the number 10 jersey. He will again be partnered at half-back by Nick McCarthy.

There are three further changes on the replacements bench with Sean McNulty replacing Buccaneers player Jacob Walshe, Denis Coulson replacing Shane Delahunt and Frankie Taggart taking over from Rory Moloney (also Buccaneers).

Mike Ruddock commented: “We got off to a good start in difficult conditions against the Scots but the Welsh will provide a much sterner test. An almost unchanged side gives us some consistency and will allow combinations to develop across the field.”

Friday’s second fixture of the U20 Championship will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two and rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only).

Match tickets can be purchased in advance at either Buccaneers RFC or the Bounty. They can also be bought at the turnstiles on match night, but do come along early especially as pyrotechnics prior to kick-off will add to the fantastic atmosphere. Stand seats generally sell out in advance of each match.

Ticket prices are as follows: Stand €20; Terrace €15; Children/OAP €5; Family (two adults and two children to ground) €30. Group discounts are available to clubs/schools, etc., as are a limited number of pre-match tables where you can enjoy a three-course meal with wine and have a reserved seat in the stand for only €40 per person. Contact Geraldine at 086 1732711 or email rugby@dubarrypark.com to book or for further enquiries. 

Ireland U-20 Team & Replacements v Wales, RBS U-20 Six Nations Championship, Dubarry Park, Athlone, Friday, February 7)

15. David Busby (Queen’s University/Ulster)
14. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Peter Robb (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
11. Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
1. Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2. Max Abbott (Cork Constitution/Munster)
3. Rory Burke (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4. Sean O’Brien (Galwegians/Connacht)
5. Ross Molony (UCD/Leinster)
6. Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
8. Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
17. Denis Coulson (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18. Oisin Heffernan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Joe Joyce (Bristol/Exiles)
20. Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21. Jack Cullen (Bruff/Munster)
22. Conor McKeon (Lansdowne/Leinster)
23. Dan Goggin (Young Munster/Munster).