Five Ulstermen have been named in the Ireland U20 Squad for the Junior World Championship in South Africa next month...

Iain Henderson is the sole Ulster representative in the forwards, but Paddy Jackson, Peter Nelson, Chris Farrell and Stuart Olding are named among the backs.

The 28 man squad named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock is drawn in Pool B alongside England, Italy and the hosts South Africa.

The core of the squad featured in the recent U20 Six Nations Championship which saw Ireland lose out to England in a Grand Slam decider in March.

Hendseron and Jackson are two of seven players who were involved in the 2011 Junior World Championship.

Ireland under-20 Head Coach Mike Ruddock said, “We are coming into the IRB Junior World Championship on the back of a relatively successful Six Nations having won four out of five of our matches. This gives us some confidence going into the tournament.

"However, we are in an extremely physical group. We have hosts South Africa up first, followed by the 6 Nations champions England and then the ever improving Italians. It will require a massive effort from our part to overcome such physical size and power but we intend to give it our best shot.”

Ireland U-20 Squad (IRB Junior World Championship, South Africa 2012)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne /Leinster)
Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster)*
Jake Cawley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Jordon Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)
Sam Coghlan Murray (UCD/Leinster)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Barry Daly (UCD/Leinster)
Chris Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Mullingar /Leinster)
J.J. Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
Iain Henderson (Queens University /Ulster)*
Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Shane Layden (Buccaneers /Connacht)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Cathal Marsh (Trinity College /Leinster)
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
Des Merry (Clontarf/Leinster)
Peter Nelson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Alan O'Connor (UCD/Leinster)
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
James Rael (Garryowen/Munster)
Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Niall Scannell (Dolphin RFC/Munster)
Mikey Sherlock (Clontarf/Leinster)
Josh Van Der Flier (UCD/Leinster)

*Featured in 2011 Junior World Championship

IRFB Junior World Championship Fixtures:
Pool B (all times are local)
4th June, England v Italy, K.O. 16:45 (University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town)
4th June, South Africa v Ireland, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)
8th June, South Africa v Italy, K.O. 18:45 (University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town)
8th June, England v Ireland, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)
12th June, Ireland v Italy, K.O.14:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)
12th June, South Africa v England, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)

Five Ulstermen in Ireland U20 Squad for Junior World Championship

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