Evan O'Connell will captain the Ireland U20s for their opening match of the U20 Six Nations against France in Aix-en-Provence on Saturday night.
O'Connell, nephew of Ireland great Paul O'Connell, leads the team from the second row, as one of five players in the Ireland starting XV who featured during last year's Grand Slam-winning campaign.
Hugh Gavin starts in the centre, Danny Sheahan is named at hooker, O’Connell starts in the engine room and Joe Hopes and Brian Gleeson are in the back row.
Ben O’Connor, Finn Treacy and Hugo McLaughlin are the back three, with Wilhelm de Klerk joining Gavin in midfield.
In the half-backs, Oliver Coffey partners Jack Murphy. Up front, Alex Usanov and Andrew Sparrow pack down either side of Sheahan, with Alan Spicer and skipper O’Connell in the second row.
Hopes is at blindside flanker, Bryn Ward is named at openside and Gleeson is at number eight.
Ireland head coach Richie Murphy has strong options among the replacements bench as Henry Walker, Ben Howard, Jacob Boyd, Billy Corrigan and Luke Murphy provide the reinforcements up front, with backs Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton and Ethan Graham completing the 23.
Ireland U20s: Ben O'Connor, Finn Treacy, Wilhelm de Klerk, Hugh Gavin, Hugo McLaughlin, Jack Murphy, Oliver Coffey, Alex Usanov, Danny Sheahan, Andrew Sparrow, Alan Spicer, Evan O’Connell (capt), Joe Hopes, Bryn Ward, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Henry Walker, Ben Howard, Jacob Boyd, Billy Corrigan, Luke Murphy, Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton, Ethan Graham
