Ireland U19 have named their 7s squad for the FIRA/AER U19 European 7s Championship in Lisbon this weekend.
The tournament takes place over both Saturday and Sunday and features Ireland, France, and Italy from the RBS 6 Nations roster.
Ireland are in Group A alongside France, Germany and Denmark, and will open their tournament against the Danes before playing Germany and then what is likely to be a Pool decider against the French,
Group B sees Russia, Romania, Latvia, and Lithuania drawn together, while Group C includes Belgium, Poland, Monaco, and Israel, with Group D featuring Italy, Hungary, Moldova, and the hosts Portugal.
The Irish squad is mostly made up of players from the four Irish provinces, with a good smattering of Ireland U20 and Ireland U18 experience.
There are also three Irish Exiles in the squad, two of whom are passing up on one of the biggest school games of their lives for the opportunity to represent their country.
Millfield School’s Callum Sheedy and John Fisher’s Bradley Greer were both expected to feature for their schools at the Marriot London Sevens at Twickenham this weekend in a re-run of the 2014 Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Open final.
Missing out on that will be more than compensated for by the prospect of international rugby and the sunshine of Portugal though, joining them from the Irish Exiles is Ealing Trailfinders back, Matthew Killeen.
The Irishmen are seeded eighth but ought to back themselves to be able to battle higher than their seeding if they play to their best.
Sean O’Hagan (Corinthians/Connacht)
Harrison Brewer (Terenure College/Leinster)
Steven McMahon (Garryowen/Munster)
Greg O’Shea (Shannon/Munster)
Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Jack Cullen (Bruff/Munster)
Ben Kilkenny (St. Munchin’s College/Munster)
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
Zack McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Bradley Greer (John Fisher/Exiles)
Callum Sheedy (Millfield/Exiles)
Matthew Killeen (Ealing Trailfinders/Exiles)
For more information, please follow this link: U19 European 7s Championship
