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Three Blues to Start Against Ireland

22nd February 2006


Rhys Thomas, Martyn Williams and Robert Sidoli are included in the Wales team to play Ireland this Sunday.

Caretaker Wales coach Scott Johnson has announced a team showing no changes amongst the Forwards after the victory against Scotland.

Wales: Lee Byrne (Scarlets); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Hal Luscombe (Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Scarlets), Dafydd James (Scarlets); Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Blues), Adam R Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Dragons), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Colin Charvis (Newcastle), Martyn Williams (Blues), Michael Owen (Dragons, capt).

Replacements: Mefin Davies (Gloucester), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Gareth Delve (Bath), Mike Phillips (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Barry Davies (Scarlets).

Following this match Wales end the 6 Nations campaign with two home games against Italy and France on 11th and 18th March respectively. Cardiff Blues offer comprehensive hospitality packages including match tickets for each Wales home game in this seasons RBS Six Nations championship. For more information follow this
The Wales Under 21s and Under 19s teams to play Ireland at age grade levels have been announced as well.

Tom Riley, the Pontypridd and Blues Academy centre, has been promoted to the Wales starting line-up for their clash at Athlone RFC on Friday night (kick-off 7.30 pm).

His place on the replacements bench involves a straight switch with Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff Blues Academy) in the only change to the team who ran in four tries against Scotland in their 34-24 victory 12 days ago to get back on track after their 26-18 defeat to England in their tournament opener.

"We have had a good look at the performance against Scotland and the only disappointment was that we did not beat them more convincingly on the scoreboard," said Wales Under-21 Head Coach, Chris Davey.

"We produced some great attacking rugby without applying all the finishing touches and we will be out to take it a stage further against Ireland.

"Dafydd has had two starts and Tom is a quality player and this is his opportunity to see what he can bring to the set-up."

Wales Under-21: Jamie Roberts (Blues Academy); Darren Daniel (Scarlets Academy), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom Riley (Blues Academy), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff Blues); James Hook (Ospreys Academy), Martin Roberts (Ospreys Academy); Rhys Gill (Blues Academy), Duane Goodfield (Blues Academy), Phil Osborne (Newport), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys Academy), Dominic Day (Scarlets Academy), Craig Everett (Worcester Academy), Rhys Shellard (Blues Academy), Tom Smith (c) (Ospreys Academy)

Replacements: Ed Shervington (Neath), Ian Jones (Scarlets Academy), Will Jones (Dragons Academy), Ben Lewis (Ospreys Academy), Dafydd Hewitt (Blues Academy), Aled Thomas (Dragons Academy), Liam Davies (Scarlets Academy)

Wales will have an Under-19 Triple Crown in their sights when they clash with Ireland in the Under-19 Six Nations at Blackrock College RFC on Saturday (kick-off 1.00 pm).

Justin Burnell, the Wales Under-19 Head Coach, has made three changes to the team who beat Scotland 48-10 in the second leg of their Triple Crown bid after kicking-off the tournament with a stunning 13-10 victory over England.

The team will be aiming to make it four wins on the bounce following their historic 27-7 victory over Australia - the young Wallabies' first Test defeat on Welsh soil - and the Six Nations wins over England and Scotland.

Wales Under-19: Martyn Thomas (Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Ashley Smith (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons); Rhys Jones (Exiles/Sale Sharks), Robert Lewis (Dragons); Nicholas Eaves (Blues), Marc Breeze (Ospreys), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues, captain), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Joshua Turnbull (Scarlets), Daniel Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons)

Replacements: Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Kenneth Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Darren Allinson (Scarlets)