MIKE RUDDOCK has announced a 28-man Ireland Under-20s squad for the Junior World Cup in South Africa next month.

Considering the strength in depth in certain Irish positions, there is no guarantee that all seven players who featured in last year’s tournament will start against the hosts in the opening Pool B game on June 4th against hosts South Africa at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

The squad has a valuable sprinkling of talent already exposed to senior provincial rugby this season, with the incumbent Ulster outhalf Paddy Jackson expected to captain the side.

Queen’s University lock-cum-flanker Ian Henderson barrelled over for a try at Thomond Park in last weekend’s Pro 12 match, while former St Michael’s College scrumhalf Luke McGrath made his senior debut for Leinster against the Dragons.

“We are coming into the IRB Junior World Championship on the back of a relatively successful Six Nations, having won four out of five of our matches,” said Ruddock.

“This gives us some confidence going into the tournament. However, we are in an extremely physical group. We have hosts South Africa up first, followed by the Six Nations champions England and then the ever improving Italians. It will require a massive effort from our part to overcome such physical size and power but we intend to give it our best shot.”

Leinster dominate the panel with 16 players named to Ulster’s five, four players from Munster and three Connacht men, including their excellent fullback Shane Layden.

IRELAND U-20 SQUAD (for IRB Junior World Championship): Tadhg Beirne (Leinster), Shane Buckley* (Munster), Jake Cawley (Leinster), Jordan Coghlan (Leinster), Sam Coghlan Murray (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Aaron Conneely* (Connacht), Barry Daly (Leinster), Chris Farrell (Ulster), Tadhg Furlong* (Leinster), Conor Gilsenan (Leinster), JJ Hanrahan* (Munster), Iain Henderson* (Ulster), Foster Horan (Leinster), Paddy Jackson* (Ulster), Shane Layden (Connacht), Kieran Marmion* (Connacht), Cathal Marsh (Leinster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Des Merry (Leinster), Peter Nelson (Ulster), Alan O’Connor (Leinster), Stuart Olding (Ulster), James Rael (Munster), Peter Reilly (Leinster), Niall Scannell (Munster), Mikey Sherlock (Leinster), Josh Van Der Flier (Leinster).

* denotes player who featured in 2011 Junior World Championship

Fixtures: Pool B (all times are local)

June 4th: South Africa v Ireland, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, 5.45.

June 8th: Ireland v England, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, 5.45.

June 12th: Ireland v Italy, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, 1.45.