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Ulster's Crothers to captain Ireland U20s v Wales

Ireland U20 captain Reuben Crothers
Ireland U20 captain Reuben Crothers

Ulster's Reuben Crothers will captain Ireland in their U20 Six Nations opener against Wales at Musgrave Park on Friday night (live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player).

The flanker is one of four named in Richie Murphy's starting XV that are playing a second year at the underage grade, with second row Mark Morrissey, prop Jack Boyle and winger Chay Mullins also having featured at last season's tournament in Cardiff.

Patrick Campbell is the sole Munster man in the starting team, with the former Cork minor footballer making two appearances for the province during this season's Heineken Champions Cup, scoring a try on his debut against Wasps.

However, there are three more Munster players on the bench, with Ennis pair Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan joined by back row Ronan O'Sullivan.

Mullins starts on the right wing with Leinster's Shane Mallon joining he and Campbell in the back three, while it's an all-Leinster midfield of Ben Brownlee and Fionn Gibbons.

Wexford native Charlie Tector is named at out-half, pairing up with Connacht's Matthew Devine behind the scrum.

Boyle starts in the front row alongside Ulster duo James McCormick and Scott Wilson, while Morrissey is joined in the second row by UCD team-mate Conor O'Tighearnaigh.

Crothers leads from the back row, with James McNabney of Ulster selected at openside and Leinster's James Culhane at number eight.

Ireland U20: Patrick Campbell (Young Munster RFC/Munster); Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby), Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster), Ben Brownlee (Blackrock College/Leinster), Shane Mallon (UCD RFC/Leinster); Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster), James McCormick (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Scott Wilson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster); Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster); James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(Capt), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster).

Replacements: Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Rory McGuire (UCD/Leinster), Adam McNamee (Malone RFC/Ulster), Ronan O'Sullivan (Highfield RFC/Munster), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster), Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster), Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster).

Wales U20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby); Harri Houston (Ospreys), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Eddie James (Scarlets), Oli Andrew (Dragons); Daniel Edwards (Ospreys), Harri Williams (Scarlets); Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met), Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby); Joe Peard (Dragons), Lewis Jones (Ospreys); Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby) (Capt), Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby), Ben Moa (Dragons)

Replacements: Morgan Veness (Ealing Trailfinders), Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), Benji Williams (Opsreys), Tom Cowan (Bath Rugby), Morgan Lloyd (Dragons), Jac Lloyd (Bristol Bears), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys)

Watch live TV coverage of Ireland U20 v Wales U20 (4 February, 7.30pm) on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.

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