Richard Webster lists Welsh squad for the IRB Junior World Championships – Rugby news
Wales Under-20s head coach, Richard Webster, has announced his 26-man squad that will participate in the International Rugby Board (IRB) 2011 Junior World Championship (JWC). The IRB 2011 JWC will start on June 10 and last until June 26, as Italy hosts
the 2011 JWC.
Webster announced the squad on Monday June 6 at a special press conference. The team announcement includes seven players that have represented Welsh side in the last JWC. This includes Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster), James McKinney (Queen's
University/Ulster), Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster), David Doyle (UCD/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), and Andrew Boyle (UCD/Leinster)
The squad announced did not include Cardiff Blues winger, Harry Robinson, and centre Adam Warren. Both have failed to recover from their ankle and hamstring injuries respectively. Robinsons and Adams are replaced by Carmarthen Quins centre Rheon James and
Bridgend wing Ross Jones at their positions in the squad.
Besides James and Jones, utility backs Lewis Robling, Iolo Evans, and Dale Ford are the other non-capped players named in the squad.
Webster has expressed hopes that the squad will perform and deliver the results in the tournament. He has praised the teams’ efforts during the pre-championship training and fitness sessions and expects his team to perform brilliantly in the upcoming matches.
Wales’ Under-20s side will play their first match of the IRB 2011 JWC on June 10, 2011 against Argentina at Stadio del Plebiscito, Padova.
Commenting on the game plan against the Pumas Under-20s side, Webster added, “The Argentina game is massive for us and will go a long way to determining how we do in the tournament.”
Webster further expressed hopes that the young players will learn a thing or two about the challenges of playing rugby at the professional level and help them to prepare for their senior teams. He said, “This championship is an intense competition with five
matches in 16 days. It will give the players a great insight into what it takes to become a professional rugby player.”
Wales Under-20s side is placed in Pool A for the 2011 JWC. Besides Wales and Argentina, Pool A includes hosts Italy and New Zealand. Wales will play their second game of the tournament against New Zealand at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo on June 14, followed
by their final pool match against Italy on June 18 at Stadio Communale di Monigo, Treviso.
Wales Under-20s squad includes:
Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Finlay Bealham (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster),
Andrew Boyle (UCD/Leinster) , Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), Conor Carey (Ballymena/Ulster),
Aaron Conneely (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster),
David Doyle (UCD/Leinster),Peter du Toit (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster),
Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University/Ulster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster), Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster), Paddy Jackson (DungannonUlster),
Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster), Alex Kelly (UCD/Leinster), Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (UWIC/Exile), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster),
Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht), James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster),
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht),
Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), James Tracy (UCD/Leinster).
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