7 Ulster players named in Ireland XV match day squad to face England A

Head Coach Cullie Tucker has named the Ireland XV Match Day Squad, for Friday night's clash against England 'A' at Thomond Park (Kick-off 7.15pm, live on Premier Sports).

7 Ulster players feature in the Ireland XV match squad continuing Ulster's strong representation in Ireland international fixtures.

Leinster's Max Deegan will captain the side as one of six senior capped Test internationals in the starting team.

Shane Daly, James Hume and Ciaran Frawley all add international experience to the backline, while Deegan, Gus McCarthy and Fineen Wycherley are named in the pack by Tucker.

Friday's meeting with England 'A' is another valuable opportunity for players of national interest to stake their claim in a green jersey, with a number of players rewarded for their impressive Provincial form in recent weeks.

Daly, Zac Ward and Joshua Kenny start in Ireland XV's back three, with Hume joined by Dan Kelly in midfield. There is an all Leinster half-back pairing as Fintan Gunne starts at scrum-half alongside Frawley at out-half.

In the pack, Billy Bohan, McCarthy and Scott Wilson are in the front row, while Charlie Irvine and Wycherley start in the engine room.

Deegan leads the side from blindside flanker and is joined in the back row by Bryn Ward at openside and Brian Gleeson at number eight.

On the bench, Diarmuid Barron, Sam Crean, Jack Aungier, Harry Sheridan, Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen provided the forward replacements, while backs Matthew Devine and Cathal Forde complete the Match Day Squad.

Friday's match is live on Premier Sports, and General Sale tickets are available on Ticketmaster.ie.

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Ireland XV:

 1\. Billy Bohan (Corinthians/Connacht)

 2\. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(7)

 3\. Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)

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

 5\. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)(1)

 6\. Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(4)(captain)

 7\. Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

 8\. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

 9\. Fintan Gunne (Terenure College/Leinster)

10\. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(9)

11\. Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

12\. Dan Kelly (Munster)

13\. James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)

14\. Joshua Kenny (Terenure/Leinster)

15\. Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster)(2)

Replacements:

16\. Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster)

17\. Sam Crean (Ulster)

18\. Jack Aungier (Clontarf/Connacht)(1)

19\. Harry Sheridan (Dublin University/Ulster)

20\. Paul Boyle (Buccaneers/Connacht)(1)

21\. Matthew Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

22\. Cathal Forde (Corinthians/Connacht)

23\. Sean Jansen (Connacht).