Limerick's Evan O'Connell captains Irish U20s as five Munster players in squad to face France

HEAD COACH Richie Murphy has named his side to face France in their opening game in the U20 Six Nations which kicks-off this Saturday, February 3 at 8:10pm (Irish-time) in Stade Maurice David. 

UL-Bohemian player Evan O'Connell, a past pupil of Castletroy College, will captain the side for their first run-out of the tournament, in his second year featuring for the Ireland U20 side. 

Fellow Munster players Ben O'Connor, Danny Sheahan and Brian Gleeson are all in the starting 15, with Luke Murphy on the bench. 

Hugh Gavin starts in the centre, Danny Sheahan is named at hooker, O’Connell leads from the engine room and Joe Hopes and Brian Gleeson are in the back row.

Ben O’Connor, Finn Treacy and Hugo McLaughlin are the back three, with Wilhelm de Klerk joining Gavin in midfield. In the half-backs, Oliver Coffey partners Jack Murphy.

Up front, Alex Usanov and Andrew Sparrow pack down either side of Sheahan, with Alan Spicer and skipper O’Connell in the second row. Hopes is at blindside flanker, Bryn Ward is named at openside and Gleeson is at number eight.

Murphy has strong options among the replacements bench as Henry Walker, Ben Howard, Jacob Boyd, Billy Corrigan and Luke Murphy provide the reinforcements up front, with backs Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton and Ethan Graham completing the 23.

Ireland have won the last two U20 Six Nations tournaments and will be hoping to make it three in a row this year.

Saturday's game will be live on Virgin Media Two from 7:30pm. 

IRELAND: Ben O'Connor, Finn Treacy, Wilhelm De Klerk, Hugh Gavin, Jack Murphy, Oliver Coffey; Alex Usanov, Danny Sheahan, Andrew Sparrow, Alan Spicer, Evan O'Connell, Joe Hopes, Byrn Ward, Brian Gleeson.

REPLACEMENTS: Henry Walker, Ben Howard, Jacob Boyd, Billy Corrigan, Luke Murphy, Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton, Ethan Graham.