Head Coach, Nigel Carolan, has selected backs Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch), Jack Owens and Jacob Stockdale (both Queen’s University) alongside forwards Zack McCall, Alex Thompson and Lorcan Dow (all Queen’s University) in his 28 man squad. All, with the exception of McCall, are members of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy.
Just two of Carolan's squad were not involved in the recent RBS 6 Nations U20 Championship; Sean McNulty and Charlie Rock. McNulty, who featured in the 2014 6 Nations, comes back into the panel having recovered from injury and is joined by the uncapped Rock.
Eight of the squad have previous U20 Championship experience (previously known as the Junior World Championship) having played in last year's tournament in New Zealand, where the Irish side finished in fourth position; Ross Byrne, Billy Dardis, Ciaran Gaffney, Oisin Heffernan, Nick McCarthy, Rory Moloney, Josh Murphy and Gary Ringrose.
Ireland share pool C with Argentina, Scotland and New Zealand and open their tournament against Argentina on Tuesday, 2nd June in Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma.
IRELAND SQUAD FOR WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2015:
Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
Lorcan Dow (Queen’s University/Ulster, pictured)
Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)
Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
Zack McCall (QUB/Ulster)
Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
Conán O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
David O'Connor (St.Mary's/Leinster)
Conor Oliver (St.Mary's/Leinster)
Jack Owens (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jacob Stockdale (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Alex Thompson (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Nick Timoney (St. Mary's/Leinster)
* Denotes uncapped player at International U20 level
WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 POOLS:
POOL A - England, France, Wales, Japan
POOL B - South Africa, Australia, Samoa, Italy
POOL C - New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina, Scotland
IRELAND FIXTURES:
Ireland U20s v Argentina U20s, Parma, Tuesday 2nd June, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
Ireland U20s v Scotland U20s, Calvisano, Saturday 6th June, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
New Zealand U20s v Ireland U20s, Viadana, Wednesday 10th June, kick-off 8.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time
Match Day 4: Play-offs and semi-finals, Monday 15th June
Match Day 5: Play-offs and final, Saturday 20th June