The Ireland U18 squads to take part in the 5 Nations Festival and Tri Nations Festival over Easter have been confirmed...

Both sides are made up of a combination of school and club players. There are also several players that have come through the Exiles identification programme. Ten representatives from Ulster have been named, including a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup finalists.

Speaking ahead of the tournaments, IRFU High Performance Manager, Colin McEntee said;

"These two festivals provide the opportunity to challenge, develop and nurture our young aspiring players in a learning environment via international fixtures. The collective aim of the participating countries in both tournaments is for the players to demonstrate their ability, to play positive rugby and as a result all countries can effectively measure performance i.e. technical, tactical and positional.

"This period also allows Ireland to externally benchmark our player's skills and style against our six nations competitors. Both our players and managements are really looking forward to the festivals at which I'm sure future Irish internationals will be identified."

The 5 Nations Festival, which features Ireland, England, Italy, Scotland and Wales takes place in Bristol and the CBB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly between the 24th March and 2nd April. Ireland will take on England, Scotland and Italy.

The Tri Nations Festival will take place in Ashbourne RFC between the 26th March and 2nd April and will feature Ireland, England and France.

The 5 Nations squad it will be coached by Noel McNamara and assisted by Alex Codling. John McKinney will manage the squad.

The Tri Nations Festival side will be coached by Mark Butler and assisted by Colm Tucker. Dermot Kelly will manage the squad.

Ireland U18 5 Nations Festival Squad

Ollie Brown (Harpenden RFC / Exiles)
Alexander Clarke (Ballymena Academy / Ulster)
Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown / Leinster)
Ronan Coffey (Ard Scoil Ris / Munster)
Matthew Dalton (Belfast Royal Academy / Ulster)
Conor Dean (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Caelan Doris (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Richard Dunne (Blackrock College / Leinster)
David Hawkshaw (Belvedere College / Leinster)
James Hume (RBAI / Ulster)
Daniel Hurley (Cresent CC / Munster)
Ronan Kelleher (St. Michael's College / Leinster)
Sean Masterson (Portlaoise RFC)
Tadgh McCarthy (Bantry RFC / Munster)
John McCusker (Rainey Old Boys / Ulster)
Michael Milne (Roscrea / Munster)
James Newey (Christ College Brecon / Exiles)
Tommy O'Brien (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Hugh O'Sullivan (Belvedere College / Leinster)
Tom O'Toole (Campbell College / Ulster)
Callum Reid (RBAI / Ulster)
David Robb (Galwegians / Connacht)
Charlie Ryan (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Jonathan Stewart (Wallace High School / Ulster)
Liam Turner (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Conor Wharton (Oaklands College / Exiles)

5 Nations Tournament Fixtures March 24th – April 2nd

Ireland U18 v England U18 – Filton College, Bristol, March 24th, 2pm
Ireland U18 v Scotland U18 – CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly, March 29th, 2pm
Ireland U18 v Italy U18 - CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly, April 2nd, 11am

Ireland U18 Tri Nations Festival Squad

Diarmuid Barron (Rockwell College / Munster)
Aaron Browne (Roscrea / Leinster)
Evin Coyle (Gonzaga / Leinster)
Alex Crocker (Henley College / Exiles)
Jack Daly (Castleisland / Munster)
Sam Dardis (Terenure / Leinster)
Jack Dunne (St.Michael's College / Leinster)
Cathal Duff (Clongowes / Leinster)
Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy / Ulster)
David McCarthy (Skibbereen RFC / Munster)
Stephen McLaughlin (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Paul Mullan (Armagh RFC / Ulster)
Andrew Murphy (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Fergus O'Brien (Whitgift School / Exiles)
Thomas O'Callaghan (CBC Monkstown / Leinster)
JJ O'Dea (Navan / Leinster)
Rhys O'Donnell (RBAI / Ulster)
Jack O'Sullivan (PBC / Munster)
Conor Philips (Crescent College / Munster)
Cory Reid (Buccaneers & Marist College / Connacht)
Michael Sylvester (Clongowes Wood College / Leinster)
Peter Sylvester (PBC / Munster)

U18 Tri Nations Festival Fixtures March 26th – April 2nd

Ireland U18 v France U18 – Ashbourne RFC, March 26th, 2pm
Ireland U18 v England U18 – Ashbourne RFC, April 2nd, 2pm

Ireland U18 Squads Announced for 5 Nations and Tri Nations Festivals

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