skip to main content

Munster's Coughlan among four changes for Ireland U20

Ireland scrum-half Ethan Coughlan
Ireland scrum-half Ethan Coughlan

Richie Murphy has made four changes to his side for Friday night's U20 Six Nations meeting with France in Aix-en-Provence.

Ireland face a step up in class on their first away trip of the championship, having hammered Wales 53-7 in Musgrave Park last Friday night, while this week's opponents also started with a bonus point in Round 1, defeating Italy 41-15.

Munster's Ethan Coughlan comes in to take the place of Connacht's Matthew Devine at scrum-half, with Coughlan among those academy prospects who made their debuts for Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup against Wasps in December.

In the centre, Daniel Hawkshaw - brother of Leinster back and former Ireland U20 captain David - comes in for Fionn Gibbons to partner one of last week's tryscorers Ben Brownlee in midfield.

And a third change in the backline sees Aitzol King step up from the subs bench to start on the wing alongside Patrick Campbell and Shane Mallon, with Chay Mullins dropping out after his two-try performance last week.

The only other change comes in the pack, with UCD prop Rory McGuire starting at tghthead, joining Jack Boyle and James McCormick in the front row.

Conor O'Tighearnaigh and Mark Morrissey continue at lock, while the back row is also unchanged, with captain Reuben Crothers joined by James McNabney and last week's Player of the Match James Culhane.


Ireland U20: Patrick Campbell (Young Munster RFC/Munster); Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Daniel Hawkshaw (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Ben Brownlee (Blackrock College/Leinster), Shane Mallon (UCD RFC/Leinster); Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster); Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster), James McCormick (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Rory McGuire (UCD/Leinster); 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), Darragh McSweeney (Shannon RFC/Munster), Adam McNamee (Malone RFC/Ulster), Conor Moloney (Young Munster RFC/Munster), Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster), Dylan O'Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster)

France U20: Max Aurias; Jefferson Joseph, Emilien Gailleton, Louis le Brun, Enzo Reybier; Louis Foursans-Bourdette, Baptiste Jauneau; Mtis Perchaud, Victor Montgaillard, Robin Bellemand; Smuel M'foudi, Matthieu Uhila; Leo Banos, Esteban Capilla, Malohi Suta

Replacements: Lucas Martin, Louis Keziah Penverne, Velentin Simutoga, Raphael Portat, Noe Della Schiava, Jules Coulon, Aubin Eymeri, Ethan Randle

Read Next