Ireland U20s coach Noel McNamara has named six uncapped players in an initial squad of 33 for the World Rugby U20 Championships in Argentina.
The party will be whittled down to 28 before departure for Santa Fe, via Amsterdam and Buenos Aires. Ireland face England, Australia and Italy in their pool: a tough task.
The six uncapped players are forwards Declan Adamson, Thomas Ahern, Azur Allison and Charlie Ward, as well as Adam LaGrue and Stewart Moore in the backs.
The squad will be captained by UCD and Leinster’s Charlie Ryan, with Shannon and Munster scrum-half Craig Casey named as vice-captain.
Ryan and Dylan Tierney-Martin are the two members of the squad with previous experience at the World Championships, having taken to the field in France last summer.
McNamara said: "History has shown us that this is an attritional competition and it’s important that anyone who may take to the field in Argentina is up to speed with how want to play.
"With that in mind we have named an extended squad ahead of setting off in two weeks’ time.
"We have had some really positive sessions since the Six Nations, and with another camp coming up next week we will continue to build on preparations ahead of the first game against England."
FORWARDS: Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster), Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Tom Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster), Brian Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster), John Hodnett (UCC), David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster), John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster), Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht), Callum Reid (Banbridge/Ulster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster) Captain, Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht), Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster), Ronan Watters (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)
BACKS: Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster, Vice-Captain), Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster), Cormac Foley (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Sean French (Cork Constitution/Munster), Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster), Bruce Houston (Ballymena/Ulster), Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster), Adam LaGrue (Terenure College/Leinster), Stewart Moore (Malone/Ulster), Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht), Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster), Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster), Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster)
