Tom Tierney has named the Ireland U19 side to take on Japan at Energia Park today (KO 2pm) in the second meeting of the sides over the Easter period.

There are a number of changes to the side that ran out 40-29 winners in a game that saw the sides score 10 tries between them on Saturday.

Up front, props Donnacha Mescal and Michael Milne along with hooker Claytan Milligan form a new front-row partnership and the second-row sees Charlie Ryan pack down with Luke Clohessy.

Mescal started for Blackrock College in last week’s Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup Final win over Belvedere College and is joined in the side by his captain, Liam Turner, who is named on the bench.

Number 8 Ruadhan Byron started for Belvedere in the Senior Cup Final and he is joined in the Ireland U19 back row by Athy RFC’s Martin Moloney and Jamie Macartney.

In the backs, Colm Reilly is at scrum-half and Ben Healy starts at out-half.

David Ryan (brother of Ireland second-row James) starts at inside-centre, with Kieran Dunne outside him.

Ireland U20 Angus Kernohan is on the left wing, with Eoghan Barrett on the right and Conor Hayes at full-back.

Ireland U19 will also face France U19 in two games at The Sportsground in Galway on Tuesday, 3rd April (5pm kick-off), and Saturday, 7th April (2.30pm kick-off).

Ireland U19

15. Conor Hayes (Young Munster RFC)
14. Eoghan Barrett (Christian Brothers College, Cork)
13. Kieran Dunne (Shannon RFC)
12. David Ryan (St. Michael’s College)
11. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena RFC)
10. Ben Healy (Glenstal Abbey)
9. Colm Reilly (Garbally College)
1. Donnacha Mescal (Blackrock College)
2. Claytan Milligan (Ballynahinch RFC)
3. Michael Milne (Cistercian College, Roscrea)
4. Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC) CAPTAIN
5. Luke Clohessy (Cistercian College, Roscrea)
6. Martin Moloney (Athy RFC)
7. Jamie Macartney (Campbell College, Belfast)
8. Ruadhan Byron (Belvedere College)

Replacements

16. Dylan Tierney (Corinthians RFC)
17. Shay O’ Malley (Hartpury College) – IQ Rugby
18. Paul McGookin (Ballyclare RFC)
19. Ryan Baird (St. Michael’s College)
20. Azur Allison (Ballymena RFC)
21. Graham Curtis (Malone RFC)
22. Conor Kelly (Clontarf FC)
23. Liam Turner (Blackrock College)
24. Scott Penny (St. Michael’s College)
25. Hugh Lane (Galwegians RFC)

Ireland U19 – Fixtures and Results

Ireland U19 40-29 Japan U19 (Saturday, 23rd March, Energia Park)

Ireland U19 v Japan U19 (Wednesday, 28th March, 2pm, Energia Park)

Ireland U19 v France U19 (Tuesday, 3rd April, 5pm, The Sportsgrounds)

Ireland U19 v France U19 (Saturday, 7th April, 2.30pm, The Sportsgrounds)