*Conor Moloney, Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan.
CLARE TRIO, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Conor Moloney have been included in the Irish U20 squad to face Italy on Saturday.
Barefield’s Coughlan starts at scrum half with his fellow parishioner Tony Butler and Conor Moloney of Kildysart listed among the substitutes for their uncapped challenge with Italy which begins at 2pm on Saturday at the UCD Bowl.
Their inclusion follows their Heineken Champions Cup debut for Munster on Sunday against Wasps in a memorable outing for the province.
All three played underage together for Ennis RFC, while they line out on the same side at provincial and national level they are on different sides within the AIL, Coughlan is with Shannon RFC, out-half Butler is part of the Garryowen ranks while Moloney is part of the Young Munster set-up.
Ritchie Murphy’s squad assembled at the IRFU High Performance Centre this week as they step up preparations for the 2022 Six Nations, their opening outing will be on February 4th against Wales in Musgrave Park.
“Saturday’s game against Italy will be hugely beneficial for the whole group and an important step for us in our preparations for that first game against Wales at Musgrave Park. We are looking forward to the challenge of a live match situation,” he said.
Reuben Crothers, Mark Morrissey and Chay Mullins are all selected to start, they are the only survivors from last year’s U20 Six Nations campaign. Ulster back row Crothers will captain the side.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) issued his congratulations to Ennis RFC for producing players of the calibre of Coughlan, Butler and Moloney. “It is a great achievement and a vote of confidence in rugby for Co Clare”.
“Two of them are from my parish,” said a delighted Cllr Ann Norton (IND). “It is a massive achievement for the three lads but also a great honour for their parents for the hard work, all the driving and support they have given. It gave us all something to cheer about,” the Mayor of Ennis stated.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) commented, “I’m a rugby follower myself, I would like to believe that Munster is the home of rugby, Leinster argue but they’re entitled to their views”.
Ireland U20s (v Italy):
15. Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby)
13. Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster)
12. Ben Brownlee (UCD RFC/Leinster)
11. Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
10. Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9. Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
1. Ben Popplewell (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
2. Dylan Murphy (Garryowen FC/Munster)
3. Rory McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
4. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
7. Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(Captain)
8. James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
17. Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
18. Darragh McSweeney (Shannon RFC/Munster)
19. Fionn McWey (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
20. James McNabney (Ballymana RFC/Ulster)
21. Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22. Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster)
23. Darragh French (UCC RFC/Munster)
24. Conor Moloney (Young Munster/Munster)
25. Callum O’Reilly (Dublin University FC/Leinster).
