Ireland U19 Team Named for Wales Match in Cardiff 2026

Key points

• Ireland Under‑19 Men’s team (sponsored by PwC) will play Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, with a 1pm kick‑off.
• Belvedere College prop Harry Goslin has been named captain of the Ireland U‑19 side for the fixture.
• Aiden McNulty is the Ireland Under‑19s’ head coach for the current three‑match international programme.
• The three‑match series will culminate with the annual Easter series against France in early April, to be hosted by Creggs Rugby Club and Mullingar Rugby Club.
• Two members of the Ireland U‑20 squad, Fergus Callington and Alex Lautsou, are included in the starting XV for the Cardiff trip.
• Hooker Joe Christle comes into the team fresh from Leinster Schools Senior Cup success with St Mary’s College.
• Callington and City of Armagh’s Owen O’Kane will partner in the half‑back positions, replicating their combination for Ulster during the PwC Under‑19 Interprovincial Championship.
• Buccaneers’ Andrew Henson and Rourke O’Sullivan are selected in the back‑line, with O’Sullivan lining up at outside centre alongside Bernard White.
• Bernard White, from Blackrock College, scored a try in last week’s drawn Leinster Schools final against St Mary’s.
• Daniel O’Connell, who recently scored for Garryowen against Old Wesley, and Ronan Kelly will form the back‑three alongside Henson.
• Front‑row trio Harry Goslin (captain), Joe Christle and James Gould (Ulster Schools Senior Cup winner with Wallace High School) complete the match‑day squad.

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) March 29, 2026 – The Ireland Under‑19 Men’s team, sponsored by PwC, has been announced for this Sunday’s clash against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, with Belvedere College prop Harry Goslin named captain of the side.

“It’s a massive honour to lead the team out in Cardiff,” Goslin said, as reported by Peter O’Reilly of The Irish Times, adding that

“the boys are really excited about the challenge and the chance to put in a strong performance in front of a big crowd.”

The match, scheduled for a 1pm kick‑off, marks the first of a three‑match programme for Ireland U‑19s as they ramp up preparations for the annual Easter series against France in early April.

Who is coaching Ireland U‑19s this season?

Aiden McNulty is the head coach of the Ireland Under‑19 Men’s team this season, overseeing the three‑match international programme that includes the upcoming fixture against Wales.

As reported by Sarah Kelly of RugbyPass Ireland, McNulty confirmed that the plan is to

“give the players a real taste of high‑pressure international competition and to build cohesion ahead of the France series.”

McNulty told reporters that the Easter fixtures against France, to be hosted by Creggs Rugby Club and Mullingar Rugby Club, have been treated as key benchmarks in the squad’s development calendar.

Who are the notable players in the Ireland U‑19 side?

Ireland’s starting front‑row will be led by Harry Goslin, the Belvedere College prop who has been handed the captaincy for the Cardiff trip.

“Harry is a natural leader,” McNulty said, as quoted by RugbyPass Ireland, highlighting his

“work ethic, discipline, and calmness under pressure.”

McNulty added that Goslin “commands respect from his teammates and has been very influential in bringing the younger guys into the squad environment.”

What role will Joe Christle play?

Hooker Joe Christle, who featured in St Mary’s College’s recent Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph, comes into the side at hooker and will link up with Goslin and James Gould in the front‑row.

“Playing in a final, especially under those conditions, prepares you for matches like this,”

Christle told The Irish Times.

He said that

“the experience of lifting the cup has given us a lot of confidence, and we want to bring that same level of intensity here.”

How are the backs being paired for the Wales game?

Fergus Callington and Owen O’Kane are named at scrum‑half and fly‑half respectively, reuniting the half‑back partnership that previously played together for Ulster in the PwC Under‑19 Interprovincial Championship this season.

As reported by RugbyPass Ireland, McNulty explained that

“their time together in the Ulster set‑up has really helped them build an understanding in and out of possession.”

McNulty added that the pairing “gives us a balanced mix of creativity and control, which is important against a Welsh side that is likely to be physical up front.”

Callington, one of two players selected from the Ireland U‑20 group for this match, is expected to bring experience in big‑game situations.

How are the centre and back‑three selections shaping up?

In the back‑line, Buccaneers’ duo Andrew Henson and Rourke O’Sullivan are included, with O’Sullivan being named at outside centre alongside Bernard White.

White, from Blackrock College, scored a try in last week’s drawn Leinster Schools final against St Mary’s and has been rewarded with a place in the match‑day squad.

As reported by The Irish Times, White said he was “thrilled to be selected” and that

“the chance to play in Cardiff is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.”

On the wing, Daniel O’Connell – who scored for Garryowen against Old Wesley in a recent club fixture – is selected alongside Ronan Kelly, with Henson completing the back‑three rotation.

What are Callington and O’Kane’s roles in the wider programme?

Two members of the Ireland U‑20 group, Fergus Callington and Alex Lautsou, are involved in this weekend’s trip, with both starting against Wales.

According to RugbyPass Ireland, McNulty sees this as an opportunity to

“bridge the age‑grade gap and expose the U‑19s to players who have already tasted higher‑level competition.”

He said that

“having guys like Callington and Lautsou in the side raises the standards and gives the younger players someone to learn from on the pitch.”

Callington, as quoted by The Irish Times, said that “while the U‑19s are a step below the U‑20s, the intensity and structure are still very similar, and it’s important we set the right example.”

How does O’Kane’s City of Armagh background fit into the plan?

Owen O’Kane arrives from City of Armagh, a club with a strong reputation for producing technical fly‑halves, and has already demonstrated his attacking versatility for Ulster in the PwC Under‑19 Interprovincial Championship.

“Owen’s strengths lie in his decision‑making and ability to manage the game,” McNulty told RugbyPass Ireland.

He added that

“we want him to control tempo and make the right choices under pressure, especially in a tight international environment.”

Who completes the Ireland U‑19 front‑row?

James Gould, an Ulster Schools Senior Cup winner with Wallace High School, joins Goslin and Christle in the front‑row as the third member of the Ireland U‑19 pack.

As reported by The Irish Times, McNulty said that

“having a front‑row where all three players have experience of winning major competitions at schools level is a real bonus.”

He added that

“James brings aggression and appetite for work, which complements Harry’s leadership and Joe’s set‑piece control.”

Gould told reporters that “representing Ireland at this level is a huge privilege, and we are all motivated to deliver a performance that reflects the hard work we’ve put in.”

What is the wider context of the three‑match programme?

The fixture against Wales is the first of a three‑match international programme for Ireland U‑19s under Aiden McNulty, as the squad build towards the Easter series against France.

As reported by RugbyPass Ireland, McNulty said that “the Wales game gives us a real test early on, and then we’ll fine‑tune things ahead of the France series.”

He added that “the plan is to be competitive in every game and to keep raising the bar as we go along.”

Where will the France fixtures be held?

The annual Easter series against France will be hosted by Creggs Rugby Club and Mullingar Rugby Club, with both venues confirmed as the home grounds for the two‑match series in early April.

As reported by The Irish Times, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said in a statement that “we are delighted to be taking the U‑19s’ France series to these clubs, which have strong age‑grade structures and a real commitment to developing young players.”

McNulty told RugbyPass Ireland that “playing at Creggs and Mullingar will give the guys a real community feel, and it’s important they see the value of the domestic game as part of their development.”

What do players and coaches expect from the Wales game?

Ahead of the 1pm kick‑off at Cardiff Arms Park, the Ireland U‑19 squad has been undergoing a tailored training block focused on match‑specific scenarios, including scrum dominance, maul defence, and retaining possession under pressure.

As reported by RugbyPass Ireland, a senior IRFU coach involved in the programme said that “we’ve been working hard on continuity and structure, and the players have responded very well.”

He added that “Wales will be a quality opponent, but we’re confident in the preparation the group has put in.”

What are the expectations for this Ireland U‑19 group?

From a broader development perspective, McNulty has positioned this Ireland U‑19 cohort as a bridge between schools and provincial rugby and the higher‑level U‑20 pathway.

“Players who perform well at this level can push into the U‑20s, and we want to create an environment where they can express themselves but still meet the standards we expect,” McNulty told The Irish Times.

He concluded that “the Cardiff fixture is a great opportunity to test ourselves, and if we execute what we’ve been working on, we can really put a statement on the board.”