By Linley MacKenzie
Three Connacht youngsters have been selected on the Ireland squad to play in this year’s Junior World Cup.
Local players Darragh Leader (Galwegians ) and David Panther (Corinthians ), along with Adam Boland (Lansdowne ) have been announced on Mike Ruddock’s squad that will travel to the IRB Junior World Championship in France.
Ireland have been drawn in a tough group and face New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji,
South Africa, drawn in pool A alongside hosts France, England and the USA, is the current holder, having defeated New Zealand in last year’s final.
The three selections brings to eight the number of Connacht players on Ireland teams for summer action. Kieron Marmion and Robbie Henshaw, promoted for Ireland’s tour of USA and Canada, will be hoping to win their first Ireland senior caps, while Ireland’s “emerging” team for the IRB-funded Tbilisi Cup features three Galwegian club players Eoin Griffin, Eoin McKeon and Tiernan O’Halloran.
Live coverage
TG4 will provide live coverage of all of Ireland’s pool B matches in the Junior World against Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, as well as live coverage of both semi-finals and the Junior World Cup final. It will also broadcast live and exclusive coverage of Ireland’s fixtures against the USA and Canada.
The full line-up of Ireland’s rugby matches on TG4 in June is:
June 5, Ireland v Australia u-20s 5.45pm (Irish time ); June 9, USA v Ireland senior international 1,30am (Irish time ) and full deferred coverage 12.05pm; June 9, Ireland v Fiji, u-20s 5,45pm (Irish time ); June 13, Ireland v New Zealand u-20s 5.45pm (Irish time ); June 16, Canada v Ireland senior international 1am (Irish time ), full deferred coverage at 12.05pm; June 18, live coverage of both semi-fnals in the IRB Junior World Championships 5,15pm (Irish time ) 2nd seed v 3rd seed and 7.45pm (Irish time ) 1st seed v 4th seed; June 23, Live coverage of the IRB Junior World Cup final 5.45pm (Irish time ).
