Buccaneers duo in Ireland team for Six Nations opener
Two Buccaneers players have been named in the Ireland team to play Scotland in the opening round of the U20 Six Nations championship tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 2pm.
Ballinasloe duo Oisin McCormack and Shane Jennings have both been handed starting berths in the team named by Ireland head coach Richie Murphy.
McCormack is selected at openside flanker, with Jennings in the centre alongside Cathal Forde. Both McCormack and Jennings studied in Garbally College, Ballinasloe where they showcased their rugby talents.
Darragh Murray from Brideswell is on Ireland's extended squad, but the Buccaneers player didn't make the cut for the match-day squad of 26 for the Scottish game.
Due to the condensed nature of the tournament, three extra players can be named on the replacements' bench.
Munster back row Alex Kendellen captains the Irish side for the Round 1 encounter at Cardiff Arms Park. Kendellen is one of five players in the match-day squad who featured in the PRO14 league this season, the others being Jamie Osborne, Ben Moxham, Alex Soroka and Tim Corkery.
The Ireland v Scotland match will be shown live on RTÉ 1.
Ireland U20s (v Scotland):
15. Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Naas RFC/Leinster)
14. Ben Moxham (Larne High School/Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
13. Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
12. Cathal Forde (Coláiste Iognáid/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
11. Josh O'Connor (St Peter’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
10. James Humphreys (Dean Close School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
9. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
1. Temi Lasisi (CBS Enniscorthy/Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
2. Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster)
3. Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
4. Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster)
6. Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster)
7. Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
8. Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster) (captain)
Replacements:
16. Eoin de Buitléar (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin/An Ghaeltacht/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
17. Jack Boyle (St Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
18. Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Garryowen RFC/Munster)
19. Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster)
20. Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
21. Will Reilly (CBS Portlaoise/MU Barnhall/Leinster)
22. Tim Corkery (St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny/UCD RFC/Leinster)
23. Chris Cosgrave (St Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
24. Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht)
25. Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
26. Daniel Okeke (Ard Scoil Rís/Shannon RFC/Munster).