The Irish Colleges Rugby Union play their first fixture against French Students at Balbriggan RFC*, Dublin (weather permitting) on Friday night (KO: 6pm)…NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE…

Since its foundation in 1986, not only have the Irish Colleges competed continuously in the Four Nations Student rugby competitions but have also played host to a number of International sides that have included the Canadian Under-23s and the Japanese Universities.

This is the first occasion that the Irish Colleges will meet the French Students- a team that is selected from all of the 3rd level affiliates in France. The French Students are very much part of the French Rugby Union structure and have built a strong management, selection and coaching structure around their team. They have gained, and continue to gain, much respect by their counterparts within the student rugby family. Presently, they are classified as third tier within French rugby.

Ireland will be bolstered by a strong Leinster contingent, most notably out-half Brian Collins, one-time Leinster Academy back-row Alex Dunlop and Lorcan Kavanagh. John Dever earned a call-up to the Leinster ‘A’ side earlier this season, while Greystones’ John Downey adds great dynamism and aggression in attack.

This game is regarded as a major test for the Irish Colleges who have also a fixture arranged on the 27th February when they play the English Students at City of Derry RFC.

IRISH COLLEGES:

FORWARDS: Neil Simpson (UUJ/ Instonians), Stephen Snell (NCI/ Greystones), Mike Storey (UL/UL Bohemians), Cian Culleton (Sallynoggin FE/ Blackrock College), Andrew Ferguson (UUJ/ Ballymena), Robin Copeland (DBS/ St. Mary’s College), Brian Moroney (GCD/ Terenure College), Alex Dunlop (IT Tallaght/ Terenure College), John Downey (Sallynoggin FE/ Greystones), John Dever (Garda College/ Terenure College), Andrew Kerr (UUJ, Jordanstown/ Rainey), Eoghan Nihill (Blackhall Place/ Wanderers) 

BACKS: Sean Treacy (DCU/ Clontarf), Sean Joyce (NUIG/ Connemara), Mark Geraghty (DCU/ Greystones), Brian Collins (IT Blanchardstown/ Old Belvedere), Mark O’Connor (UUJ/ City of Derry), Lorcan Kavanagh (DCU/ Lansdowne), Kevin Lynch (CSN/ Dolphin), Paddy O’Toole (Garda College/ Connemara), Peter Budina (UUJ/ Ballymena), Josh Devitt (UUJ/ Malone), Craig Morrin (IT Tallaght/ St. Mary’s College)

International Manager: Moss Dineen, Coach: Eamonn Molloy, Assistant Coach: Chris Galway