Ireland Under 20s head coach Nigel Carolan has announced his 30-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations campaign.
12 Leinster players make the squad, including Andrew Porter, who is one of just four players retained from last year’s campaign.
"While we have just the four players returning from last season, we have been really impressed with the attitude and enthusiasm that the new guys have brought with them into the squad”, said Carolan.
“We've had a number of camps with this group of players, as well as two warm up games against Leinster and Munster before Christmas, so now we are just looking forward to getting the championship started against Wales”.
Meanwhile, Leinster second row James Ryan will captain the side.
Ireland kick off their Under 20s campaign against Wales on Friday 5th February at Donnybrook Stadium before trips to France and England.
Ireland host Italy and Scotland in their last two Under 20s Six Nations games.
IRELAND U20 Squad in Full:
Forwards:
James Bollard (Dublin University / Leinster)
Kelvin Browne (Shannon / Munster)
Peter Claffey (Galwegians / Connacht)
Will Connors (UCD / Leinster)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Shane Fenton (Young Munster / Munster)
John Foley (Shannon / Munster)
Cillian Gallagher (Sligo RFC / Connacht)
Greg Jones (UCD / Leinster)
Conor Kenny (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Adam McBurney (Ballymena / Ulster)
Sean O'Connor (Cashel / Munster)
Conan O'Donnell (Sligo / Connacht)
Andrew Porter (UCD / Leinster)
James Ryan (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Dan Walsh (Cork Con / Munster)
Backs:
Matthew Byrne (Terenure / Leinster)
Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons / Exlies)
Shane Daly (Cork Con / Munster)
Hugo Keenan (UCD / Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary's / Leinster)
Stephen Kerins (Sligo / Connacht)
Paul Kiernan (UCC / Munster)
Robert Lyttle (Queen's University / Ulster)
Johnny McPhillips (Queen's University / Ulster)
Conor O'Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)
Jimmy O'Brien (UCD / Leinster)
John Poland (Cork Con / Munster)
Jack Power (UCD / Leinster)
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
