Marist and Buccs star named on Ireland U18 squad
Andrew Henson of Marist College has been selected on the Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations U18s Festival in France.
In advance of the Six Nations Festival, the squad will play a special schools international against England as part of the IRFU's 150-year celebrations, also marking the 50th anniversary of the first schools international between the two countries in 1975.
Last week, Henson played a key role in the Marist College's victory in the Connacht Schools Senior Cup final. The Buccaneers player scored the late try which clinched a thrilling win over Sligo Grammar School.
A son of Niki and Karl Henson, Andrew hails from a well known sporting family from Moydrum, Athlone. Andrew has won various underage football honours with Garrycastle GAA and he has represented Westmeath at minor level. His sisters Amelie and Zara also play football for Garrycastle.
The anniversary rugby match against England takes place at the Mardyke in Cork on Saturday, March 29. Ireland will then travel to Vichy for the U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival where they will face Wales, Scotland and an invitational side from Georgia.
Head Coach Michael Hodge, assisted by Brendan O’Connor, Morgan Codyre and Jamie Kirk, has named a 32-man squad for the four fixtures.
Speaking about the squad, Hodge said: "The boys have all worked hard to earn their places in the squad. We’ve seen what they can do in the recent Schools Cup campaigns and they have brought that energy and connected well in camp. It’s always a special moment to pull on the Ireland jersey and this squad will do so with pride.”
Ireland U18 men’s squad:
Leo Anic (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon/Connacht)
Tom Bell (Ards RFC/Regent House/Ulster)
Adam Boyd (RBAI/Ulster)
James Browne (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Cian Butler (Portlaoise RFC/St Mary’s CBS Portlaoise/Leinster)
Alex Carter (Navan RFC/Leinster)
Joe Christle (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Luke Coffey (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Bobby Colbert (Gonzaga College/Leinster)
Lee Fitzpatrick (Newbridge College/Leinster)
Ollie Fitzsimmons (Wallace HS/Ulster)
Jonathan Ginnety (Castleknock College/Leinster)
Harry Goslin (Belvedere College/Leinster)
James Gould (Wallace HS/Ulster)
Ben Guerin (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Andrew Henson (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College/Connacht)
Ronan Kelly (St. Gerard’s College/Leinster)
Frank Maher (Terenure College/Leinster)
Connor McVicker (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)
Ben Moore (Wallace HS/Ulster)
Paul Neary (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Nathan Noble (Sullivan Upper HS/Ulster)
Charlie O’Connor (RBAI/Ulster)
Owen O’Kane (Rainey Endowed School/Ulster)
Harry O’Neill (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Geoff O’Sullivan (Terenure College/Leinster)
Jon Rodgers (Wallace HS/Ulster)
Fionn Rowsome (Crescent College Comprehensive/Munster)
Geoff Wall (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jamie Walsh (Cistercian College Roscrea/Munster)
Tom Walsh (Clongowes Wood College/Connacht)
Bernard White (Blackrock College/Leinster).
Fixtures
Schools International: Ireland v England (The Mardyke, Cork), Saturday, March 29th, 5.30pm.
Six Nations Men’s U18s Festival: Ireland v Wales: Vichy, April 10th. Ireland v Scotland: Vichy, April 14th. Ireland v Georgia: Vichy, April 18th.