The IRFU is hosting a new U18 Rugby Festival over the next 10 days at the University of Limerick which will feature eight representative sides and over 200 players.Â

There are U18 Club sides representing Leinster, Munster and Ulster, a combined U18 Schools and Clubs side from Connacht and U18 Schools sides from Leinster, Munster and Ulster as well as an U18 IQ Rugby side (Irish Qualified) which is made up of players who have come through the IRFU Exiles talent identification programme.

All players and staff will reside on campus at the University of Limerick over the course of the festival and will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be in professional style "rugby camp" environment. They will train on pitches across the campus, take part in gym sessions, eat meals together and manage their recovery in a balanced and controlled atmosphere while also competing across three match days on the 3G surface at UL.

IRFU Athletic Performance and Nutrition staff have tailored recovery sessions and strategies for the players as one of the main focuses of the festival is to instil good habits from a young age.

The festival will also include player and coach development modules on non-match days. This will focus on areas such as Skill Development, Mental Skills, Nutrition and Recovery.

There will be a Q&A session with players from the Munster and Ireland squads on how to manage yourself as an athlete off-field, while Ireland Skills & Kicking Coach Richie Murphy will lead a workshop on individual and collective skills for the coaches as part of their continuing development.

Speaking about the campus-based festival format, IRFU Age Grade Manager Eoin Hogan, said; "This is the first year of the new format. We are excited about bringing together all the teams and coaches.

It’s an opportunity for everyone involved to develop both on and off the pitch. IRFU and Provincial technical staff from the areas of coaching, athletic performance and nutrition have been heavily involved in designing the schedule for the festival.

For some of the players involved, it is another step for them on the Elite Player Pathway, and as they continue to develop they will hopefully go on to Provincial Academies and represent their country in the future, and this "camp" format is a great way to help prepare them for that.

Equally many players may simply continue with their club or at Third Level and our aim is to ensure that they have the best advice on how to stay involved in the game and play to best of their ability."

Game Day 1 – Saturday 18th August:
11am – Leinster Clubs v Connacht U18
1pm – Ulster Schools v Munster Schools
3pm – Ulster Clubs v Munster Clubs
5pm – Leinster Schools v IQ Rugby

Game Day 2 – Wednesday 22nd August:
11am – Ulster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm – Leinster Clubs v Ulster Clubs
3pm – Munster Clubs v Connacht U18
5pm – Munster Schools v Leinster Schools

Game Day 3 – Sunday 26th August:
11am – Munster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm – Connacht U18 v Ulster Clubs
3pm – Ulster Schools v Leinster Schools
5pm – Munster Clubs v Leinster Clubs

All games on the University of Limerick Pavilion 3G Pitch.

Ulster U18 Clubs Squad 2018

Keenan Barrett (Letterkenny)
James Campbell (City of Armagh)
Evan Charters (Virginia)
Rhys Cobain (Belfast Met)
James Crummie (City of Armagh)
Kyle Gill (Ballynahinch)
John Glasgow (City of Armagh)
Matthew Hamilton (Malone)
Curtis Henry (Cambridge House)
Stephen Kelly (Letterkenny)
Rory Maginty (Letterkenny)
Cein McColgan (City of Derry)
Thomas McDevitt (Instonians)
Michael McKeon Boyle (Virginia)
James McMaster (Grosvenor)
Luke McMullan (Dungannon)
Jack Milton (Ballyclare)
Sam Murray (City of Armagh)
Philip Nicholl (City of Armagh)
Oran O’Neill (Malone)
Stuart Patterson (FS Lisburn)
Sam Rainey (City of Armagh)
Alan Thompson (Coleraine)
Ashley Tweed (Ballymoney)
Stuart Wightman (Belfast Met)
Thomas Wilson (Carrickfergus)

Management Team:
Head Coach: Jonathon Gillespie
Coach: Jonathan Graham
Physio: Bebhinn Flaherty
Team Manager: Eamon McCormick

Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools Squad 2018

Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh)
Ben Carson (Wallace HS)
Reuban Crothers (Wallace HS)
Nathan Doak (Wallace HS)
Joel Dundas (Wallace HS)
Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS)
Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS)
Luke Graham (Methodist College)
Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy)
Jack Harte (Friends' School)
Brandon Hassan (Belfast Royal Academy)
Will Hopes (Regent House)
Greg Hutley (Down HS)
Patrick McApline (Campbell College)
Robin McIlveen (RBAI)
Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper)
Ben Moxham (Larne HS)
Luke Pollock (Dalriada)
Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI)
Conor Rankin (Campbell College)
Jude Roberts (RS Armagh)
Matthew Sands (St Colman’s College)
George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper)
Tom Stewart (Captain) (Belfast Royal Academy)
Gareth Wells (Bangor GS)
Riley Westwood (Bangor GS)

Management Team:
Head Coach: Kieran Campbell
Assistant Coaches: Willie Faloon & Mike McKeever
S & C Coach: Matthew Maguire
Physio: Jason Patton
Video Analyst: Simon MacLeod
Resources Manager: Adrian Walker
Assistant Manager: David Kenndy
Manager: Richard Clingan

IRFU U18 Rugby Festival Set to Kick-Off at University of Limerick

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