McKenzie and Nicholson in action for Ireland U-18s
WICKLOW Rugby Club had two representatives on the Ireland U-18 club side that travelled to Lisbon to take on Portugal last weekend.
Paddy McKenzie and Mark Nicholson, who play for the WRFC U18.5 team were chosen for the squad.
Paddy started at out half, with Mark being sprung from the replacements bench for the second half.
Both players had a big influence on the game with McKenzie scoring a try and Nicholson putting in a series barnstorming runs.
Ireland outscored their hosts by eight tries to three and ran out convincing 27-46 winners.
It was a proud moment for the families of both players, especially club President Bert Nicholson and his wife Marianne who travelled to Lisbon to cheer the boys on.
The club players will now hope to progress to either the Ireland Under-18 Schools or Clubs and Schools squads which will assemble at Christmas for camp in preparation for the home internationals against England for the combined team and a Five Nations tournament for the Schools side at Easter.
Congratulations to the two boys from everyone at Wicklow Rugby Club.
Team: Oran McNulty (Bath Academy/IQ Rugby); Hayden Hyde (Harlequins Academy/ IQ Rugby), Karl Martin (Boyne/ Leinster), Joe Henry (Wellington College/IQ Rugby), Saul O’Carroll (Buccaneers/Connacht); Paddy McKenzie (Wicklow/Leinster), Shane Murphy (Skerries/Leinster); Conor Morrissey (Cork Constitution/Munster), Padraig McCarthy (Bantry Bay/Munster), Charlie Ward (Tullow/Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Dungarvan/Munster), Iarlaith Morrin Laheen (Galwegians/ Connacht), Evan Murphy (Nenagh Ormond/Munster), Connor Beer (Bath Academy/IQ Rugby) (capt), Joshua Dunne (Nottingham Academy/IQ Rugby). Replacements used: Mark Nicholson (Wicklow/ Leinster) for McCarthy, Marcus Hanan (North Kildare/Leinster) for Morrissey, Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht) for Morrin Laheen (all 42 mins), Ben Daly (Waterpark/Munster) for McKenzie, Kevin O’Connor (Cashel/Munster) for Murphy (both 53), Chris Moore (Beechen Cliff School/IQ Rugby) for Beer, Paddy Harris (Wasps Academy/IQ Rugby) for Ward, Conor O’Brien (Nenagh Ormond/Munster) for Hyde (all 60), Beer for Ahern (70).