U-20 boss Ruddock plays the Blues
IRELAND U20 coach Mike Ruddock has chosen six Leinster players in his team, captained by Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson, to play Wales in the Six Nations at Dubarry Park on Friday night.
"We are all looking forward to the start of the Six Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class," said Ruddock.
"We are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."
Continuity
It is an experienced side with seven players from last year's squad. Locks Daniel Qualter and Iain Henderson and openside Aaron Conneely give the forwards a degree of continuity.
Half-backs Kieran Marmion and Jackson, centre JJ Hanarahan and wing Sam Coghlan-Murray also return in what is a notoriously difficult competition to predict with any certainty.
IRELAND U20 XV (v Wales): S Layden (Connacht); B Daly, F Horan, (both Leinster), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), S Coghlan-Murray (Leinster); P Jackson (Ulster, capt), K Marmion (Connacht); K McCall (Ulster), N Scannell (Munster), P Reilly (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), D Qualter (Connacht), C Gilsenan (Leinster), A Conneely (Connacht), J Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: D Merrey (Leinster), J Rael (Munster), J Cawley, T Beirne, J Coghlan; L McGrath, C Marsh (all Leinster), C Farrell (Ulster).
- Des Berry
