Team named as Scotland U20 travel to Belfast

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 14: The Scotland players huddle at full time during an Under-20s Six Nations match between France and Scotland at the Stade Jean-Bouin, on March 14, 2025, in Paris, France. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

The fixture at Ulster Rugby’s home will act as preparation for the World Rugby U20 Championship, with Scotland’s fixture in Italy on Sunday 29 June.

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Head Coach Kenny Murray has named a settled side, with the vast majority involved in the 2025 U20 Six Nations.

Will Pearce, who trained with the squad during the Six Nations but is yet to make his competitive debut, starts at loosehead prop, with hooker Joe Roberts and tighthead prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty completing the front row.

Bart Godsell and Dan Halkon continue from Scotland U20’s last fixture against France in the second row, and the same back row will also start with Oliver Duncan at blindside flanker, co-captain Freddy Douglas at openside and Reuben Logan at number 8.

In the backs, Hector Patterson starts at scrum-half, and is joined by Matthew Urwin at stand-off in the half-backs.

The centres are made up of Kerr Yule on the inside and co-captain Johnny Ventisei on the outside, and the team is rounded off by Fergus Watson on the left wing, Nairn Moncrieff on the right and Jack Brown at full-back.

An extended replacement list sees Oliver McKenna, Ben White, Jake Shearer, Charlie Moss, Dylan Cockburn, Mark Fyffe and Archie McMichael primed to come on in the forwards.

Noah Cowan, Isaac Coates, Cameron van Wyk, Angus Hunter, Jack Hocking and Jed Findlay, who would be making a first Scotland U20 appearance, are listed as backs replacements.

Murray said: “We’ve had a wider training group in camps over the last couple of weeks and the players are excited for a tough test.

“Having a game before the Championship gives us a chance to see where we are in terms of preparation and is an important next step for us.

“In the game against Ireland in the Six Nations we conceded four early tries and then came back and played well, but we can’t afford to give teams a head start so we’ll be looking for that 80-minute performance tomorrow and throughout the Championship.”

Scotland U20 team to play Ireland U20 at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast tomorrow (kick off 1pm)

15. Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby)
14. Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby)
13. Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors)
12. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors)

10. Matthew Urwin (Glasgow Warriors)
9. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Will Pearce (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Bristol Bears)
2. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors)
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University)
5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Oliver Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints)

Replacements

16. Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors)
17. Ben White (Melrose RFC)
18. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors)
19. Charlie Moss (Montpellier)
20. Dylan Cockburn (Melrose RFC)
21. Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trail finders)
22. Isaac Coates (Edinburgh Rugby)
23. Cameron van Wyk (Ayr RFC)
24. Mark Fyffe (University of Edinburgh)
25. Archie McMichael (Glasgow Warriors)
26. Angus Hunter (Heriot’s Rugby)
27. Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby)
28. Jed Findlay (Exeter Chiefs)