Evan O'Connell will captain the Ireland U20s for this season’s Six Nations campaign and is one of four players who were involved in last season’s Grand Slam win.
The Munster second row joins provincial team-mate Brian Gleeson, Ulster’s Joe Hopes and Connacht’s Hugh Gavin in their second year with the team, as part of a 31-man squad named by head coach Richie Murphy today.
"I got the call off Richie last Wednesday and I was over the moon," said O’Connell.
"It’s a massive honour for me and my family and I’m very proud to captain such a great squad."
There are 11 Leinster, eight Munster, seven Ulster and three Connacht players in the squad, as well as two Irish-qualified players, Patreece Bell and Will Wootton, both from Sale Sharks.
Ireland open their championship away in France before back-to-back home matches at Musgrave Park against Italy on Friday, 9 February (7.15pm) and Wales on Friday, 23 February (7.15pm).
Murphy’s side will then go head-to-head with England at The Recreation Ground in Bath on Friday, 8 March (7.15pm), before concluding the championship against Scotland in Cork on Friday, 15 March (7pm).
The Ireland squad, sponsored by PwC, have been building towards the Six Nations through a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre, and played challenge matches against Italy, Munster Development and Leinster Development over the Christmas period.
Murphy also confirmed his coaching staff for the 2024 championship, with Willie Faloon (defence and lineout) and Aaron Dundon (scrum and contact coach) continuing in their roles and former Ireland international Ian Keatley joining the team as backs coach.
"We have been working hard for a number of weeks and it’s an exciting time for these young players, who have the honour of representing the wider group in the Six Nations," Murphy said.
"We as coaches have pushed the players over the last number of months and I have been impressed by their work-rate, commitment and application. Now our focus turns to performance and the opening game against France, which we know will be a big challenge first up.
"We are looking forward to the opportunities over the coming weeks and are excited by the prospect of an Ireland U20s team returning to Six Nations action at Musgrave Park in Cork, where we always have huge support."
IRELAND U20 SQUAD
Forwards (17):
Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
Henry Walker (Queen's University RFC/Ulster)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
Jacob Boyd (Queen's University RFC/Ulster)
Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Joe Hopes (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt)
Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
Josh Stevens (Queen's University RFC/Ulster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Backs (14):
Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Ethan Graham (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Rory Ellerby (Queen's University RFC/Ulster)
Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Stephen Kiely (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
