Ronan Foxe of Ireland during the U20 Rugby World Cup match versus Australia at Paarl Gymnasium in Paarl, South Africa. Photo: Thinus Maritz/Sportsfile

Local duo on Ireland team for World Championship semi-final

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Westmeath's Ronan Foxe and Ballinasloe's John Devine are both included in the Ireland starting XV for Sunday's World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against South Africa.

The match against the host nation will take place in Cape Town (kick-off 3.30pm Irish time).

Rahugh native Foxe, who has strong connections to Rosemount, has been selected in the front row alongside Paddy McCarthy and team captain Gus McCarthy.

Foxe has previously played for Midland Warriors and Tullamore RFC, and is now with Old Belvedere and Leinster.

Devine, a son of former Buccaneers player Mike Devine from Shannonbridge, has been named at inside centre, where he will be partnered by Hugh Gavin.

A younger brother of fellow rugby star Matthew, Devine is a former student of Garbally College in Ballinasloe.

Richie Murphy's side qualified for the semi-finals as Pool B winners, having defeated Australia and Fiji, after drawing with England in their opening game.

Sunday's last four showdown against South Africa at Athlone Stadium will be shown live on Virgin Media Two.

Ireland U20s v South Africa:

15. Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)

14. Andrew Osborne (Naas/Leinster)

13. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)

12. John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

11. James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)

9. Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)

1. Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster)

2. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) captain

3. Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

4. Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)

5. Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)

6. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)

7. Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent RFC/Munster)

8. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)

17. George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)

18. Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)

19. Evan O'Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)

20. Dan Barron (Dublin University/Leinster)

21. Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)

22. Matthew Lynch (Dublin University/Leinster)

23. Sam Berman (Dublin University/Leinster).

Kieran Galvin
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