The Ireland team selected for the Wales game is a strong side and will be coached by Peter Melia, who is looking forward to the start of the festival and said, “The next week promises to be a great occasion for the local Cork and Irish sporting public.  The squad is very excited about playing at home in the festival and while being the home team brings its own pressures, we are really encouraged by the enthusiasm among the players.”

“The festival is about focusing on the experience for the players of performing at international level and hopefully we can start the festival with a positive result.  Wales are traditionally very strong at this level and the squad will have to be at its very best to win tomorrow evening.” 

The festival itself will see the national Under-18 teams from England, Ireland, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales play a series of matches at Musgrave Park, Cork Constitution FC, the Mardyke (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) from March 26 until April 1.  

Admission to all the matches is free and information on fixtures, results, teams and other news from the festival will be available on www.Irishrugby.ie/u18festival

Ireland Team:
15 - Noel Reid (St. Michael's College)
14 - Craig O'Hanlon (St. Munchin's College)
13 - Michael Allen (Methodist College Belfast)
12 - Diarmuid McCarthy (Castletroy Community College)
11 - Mark Atkinson (Grosvenor Grammar School)
10 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena Academy)
9 - David O'Driscoll (Presentation Brothers College Cork)
1 - Denis Buckley (Blackrock College)
2 - Niall Annett (Methodist College Belfast)
3 - Jack O'Connell (Clongowes Wood College)
4 - Brian Hayes (Christian Brothers College Cork)
5 - Ben Marshall (St. Andrew's College)
6 - Dominic Ryan (Gonzaga College)
7 - Brian O'Hara (Presentation Brothers College Cork) Captain
8 - David O'Callaghan (Midleton College)

Replacements:
16 - Risteard Byrne (Terenure College)
17 - Brian Cagney (Presentation Brothers College Cork)
18 - Martin Moore (Castleknock College)
19 - Patrick Butler (Rockwell College)
20 - Michael Kelleher (St. Munchin's College)
21 - Richard Bent (St. Mary's College)
22 - David McSharry (Templeogue College)
23 - Paul Pritchard (Ballymena Academy)
24 - Gavin Nugent (Presentation Brothers College Cork)
25 - Jason Bloomfield (Coleraine Academical Institution)
26 - James McKinney (Campbell College)

Management:
Manager- Lorcan Balfe
Coach - Peter Melia
Asst Coach - Paul Barr
Doctor - Ossie Fogarty
Physio - David Lyons

Tournament Schedule:
Date                                 Time                                                                         Venue
Wed 26th Mar 08             17:00     England U18s     v   Italy U18s                      Temple Hill, Cork
Wed 26th Mar 08             17:00     France U18s       v   Scotland U18                Cork Institute of Technology
Wed 26th Mar 08             19:30     Ireland U18s       v   Wales U18s                  Musgrave Park, Cork
Sat 29th Mar 08                14:30     England U18s     v   France U18s                 Cork Institute of Technology
Sat 29th Mar 08                14:30     Ireland U18s      v   Scotland U18                 Musgrave Park, Cork
Sat 29th Mar 08                14:30     Italy U18s          v   Wales U18s                   Mardyke, Cork
Tue 1st Apr 08                  14:30     Ireland U18s      v   Italy U18s                      Mardyke, Cork
Tue 1st Apr 08                  14:30     Scotland U18     v   England U18s                Musgrave Park, Cork
Tue 1st Apr 08                  14:30     Wales U18s        v   France U18s                 Temple Hill, Cork