John Devine of Ireland is tackled by Charlie Tector of Leinster during a friendly match between Ireland U20 and Leinster Development at Energia Park, Dublin. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Devine to start for Ireland with Buccaneers player on the bench

Kieran Galvin

Published: Wed 1 Feb 2023, 5:02 PM

John Devine from Ballinasloe has been selected on the Ireland team for the opening game of the U20 Six Nations against Wales in Colwyn Bay this Friday night.

Devine, who plays for Galway Corinthians and Connacht, has been selected at inside centre where he will be partnered by Hugh Cooney. John is a son of former Buccaneers star and Shannonbridge native Mike Devine.

John's older brother Matthew was the leading try scorer on the Ireland U-20 team which secured Grand Slam success last year. The two brothers are former students of Garbally College.

Meanwhile, current Buccaneers player Harry West has been selected among the replacements for Friday night's clash with Wales (kick-off 7pm, live on Virgin Media Two). The Ballina native plays as an out-half and will be hopeful of game time off the bench.

Devine and West are among four Connacht Academy players in the squad for Friday, the others being Hugh Gavin (who starts on the left wing) and Fiachna Barrett.

Ronan Foxe from Rahugh in Westmeath was included on Ireland's extended U-20 squad for the Six Nations, but he didn't make the match-day squad for the game in Wales.

A past pupil of Rosemount NS and Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, Ronan has previously played for the Moate-based Midland Warriors and for Tullamore RFC.

Looking ahead to the Wales game, Ireland head coach Richie Murphy said: "The squad have come together well over the last couple of weeks, gelling both on and off the pitch, and we have now turned the focus this week to performance."

Ireland U20s (v Wales)

15. James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)

14. Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)

13. Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)

12. John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

11. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)

9. Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)

1. George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)

2. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(captain)

3. Paddy McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster)

4. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)

5. Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)

6. James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)

7. Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)

8. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster).

Replacements: 16. Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster), 17. George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster), 18. Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht), 19. Evan O'Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster), 20. Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster), 21. Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster), 22. Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht), 23. Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster).