Wales, Ireland meet in Under-19 international
Wales Under-19 play their Irish counterparts at Stradey Park in Llanelli on Friday evening as the teams warm up for the IRB’s Under-19 World Championship in Belfast in April.
The last time the two teams met was in Dubai when Ireland won.
The Welsh captain, Josh Turnbull, played in the Dubai match but has had only 50 minutes of rugby this year after having his appendix out in December.
He said: “It’s a real privilege to lead the players out and to do it at Stradey Park in front of a home crowd will be even more special. I haven’t played much rugby since before Christmas but training has gone to plan and I am raring to go against Ireland.
“I played in last season’s victory over Ireland in Dublin and we were all pleased with our performances in that game. I was injured for the match against the Irish in Dubai, which the boys unfortunately lost, so I can’t wait to play them again.
“The boys have all gelled really well since coming together for the first time in October. It has been a long time in coming but we got into serious match preparation last week and we are all gunning to get out there.”
After this Wales play France and then England.
Ireland are captained by Paul Ryan of Blackrock College RFC.
Coach Charlie McAleese said:”This year is a big one for Irish Under-19 rugby with the World Cup taking place in Belfast. All of the squad are keen to impress and stake their claim for a place in the squad for the tournament and this game against Wales gives them that opportunity.”
Teams:
Wales Under-19: 15 Daniel Evans (Llanelli, Scarlets); 14 James Egan (Cardiff, Blues), 13 Luke Ford (Glamorgan Wanderers, Blues), 12 Rhys Williams (Llanelli, Scarlets), 11 Leigh Halfpenny (Neath, Ospreys); 10 David Langdon (Ebbw Vale, Dragons), 9 Gareth Williams (Glamorgan Wanderers, Blues); 8 Lloyd Phillips (Narberth, Scarlets), 7Sam Warburton (Glamorgan Wanderers), 6 Jevon Groves (Cardiff, Blues), 5 Josh Turnbull (captain; Llanelli, Scarlets), 4 Haydn Pugh (Llangennech, Scarlets), 3 Patrick Palmer (Llantrisant, Blues), 2 Ben Roberts (Ebbw Vale, Dragons), 1 Ryan Bevington (Bridgend, Ospreys)
Replacements: 16 Rhys Webb (Bridgend, Ospreys), 17 Gareth Owen (Maesteg, Ospreys), 18 Huw Dowden (Beddau, Blues), 19 Lloyd Elliott (Tondu, Ospreys), 20 Philip Price (Bridgend Athletic, Ospreys), 21 Nathan White (Maesteg Quins, Ospreys), 22 Nicholas Cudd (Tumble, Scarlets)
Coach: Justin Burnell
Ireland Under-19: 15 Adam Craig (Instonians, Ulster, Ulster), 14 Chris Cochrane (Coleraine Academical Institute, Ulster), 13 Jamie Smith (Ballymena, Ulster), 12 Murray Kinsella(Newtown School, Munster), 11 Niall Morris (Blackrock College RFC, Leinster), 10 Eoin O’Malley (UCD , Leinster), 9 Dave Moore (Blackrock College RFC, Leinster), 8 Paul Ryan (Blackrock College RFC, Leinster) (captain), 7 Michael Entwistle (Ballymena , Ulster), 6 Kieran Essex (CBC Cork, Munster), 5 Ian Nagle (Glenstal Abbey, Munster), 4 Brian Cawley (UCD, Leinster), 3 Matthew Nelson (Ballynahinch, Ulster), 2 Stephen Douglas (Ballymena, Ulster), 1 Paul Karayiannis(RBAI, Ulster)
Replacements: 16 Paddy McCabe (Dublin University, Leinster), 17 Stephen Archer (UCC , Munster), 18 Michael Sherry Ard Scoil Ris, Munster), 19 David Foley (UL Bohemians , Munster), 20 John Downey (Presentation College Bray, Leinster), 21 David Johnston (Belfast Harlequins , Ulster), 22 Kris Greene (St. Mary’s College RFC, Leinster), 23 Mark Geraghty (Greystones RFC, Leinster), 24 Tommy Seymour (Down High School, Ulster), 25 William Stewart (QUB, Ulster), 26 Matthew O’Regan (Northampton Saints, Exiles)
Coach: Charlie McAleese
Date: 16 February 2007
Kick-off: 19.15
Expected weather: Rain is forecast for Friday though not for Friday night. Friday’s high is expected to be 11?C, dropping to 5?C with a southeaster of 10 km/h.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (England)
