Connacht star captains Ireland Under-20s side to face England in Six Nations

"Now our focus turns to performance and the opening game against England."

Ireland Under-20s head coach Neil Doak has named his side to take on England Under-20s at Virgin Media Park this Thursday (kick-off, 7.45 pm), in their opening game of the Six Nations Championship.

Connacht's Éanna McCarthy starts at number eight and captains the side.

Of those returning from last year's crop, Alex Usanov - who shone for the Emerging Ireland team in October - starts at loosehead, Alex Mullan starts at tighthead, Henry Walker at hooker, and Billy Corrigan at lock.

The match-day 23 breaks down as follows: 11 Leinster, 5 Ulster, 4 Munster, 3 Connacht.

England come into the competition as reigning champions. They finished a point ahead of second-placed Ireland, having played out a 32-32 thriller in week four of the tournament.

They have named an imposing side, which includes the likes of Northampton's Henry Pollock, who has been sensational in this year's Champions Cup, and Bath hooker Kepu Tuipulotu.

Doak said: "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.

“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 England, 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 Virgin Media Park in Cork, where we always have huge support."

Ireland U20s:

15. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
13. Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
11. Ciaran Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
10. Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9. Clark Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

1. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2. Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
4. Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
5. Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
6. Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster)
7. Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
8. Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(captain)

16. Connor Magee (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
17. Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
18. Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
19. David Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
20. Oisin Minogue (Shannon RFC/Munster)
21. Andrew Doyle (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
22. Gene O’Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Daniel Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).