National coach John Clarke has kept faith with the 18-man squad which played training matches in France and Belgium earlier this month for the European Nations Cup in Padova, Italy, from September 1st-12th.

Two more young players - Stephen Butler, who made his debut against Japan in June, and the up-and-coming Mark Raphael - have therefore established their credentials. With the 94-times capped Daniel Clarke ruled out through injury, there are only six survivors from the team which gained fifth place in the last European Championship in Dublin in 1995. Soldiering on are Ivan Bateman, Alan Dowd, Alastair Dunne, Robbie Taylor, Julian Stevenson and David McAnulty.

The squad, with Simon Filgas joining Clarke as assistant coach, will meet Spain in a warm-up game on August 30th. The opening match of the tournament sees Ireland take on France in Pool A.

IRELAND (squad) - I Bateman (Cork Harlequins), N Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers); J Black (Harlequins), P Brown (Instonians), S Butler (Glenanne), N Buttimer (Cork C of I), A Dowd (Lisnagarvey), A Dunne (Cork C of I), G Goulet (Avoca), C Hanna (Cork C of I), C Jack- son (Annadale), E Lutton (Newry Olympic), D McAnulty (Banbridge), M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), I Steen (Newry Olympic), J Ste- venson (Lisnagarvey), R Taylor (Lisnagarvey); L Tumilty (Banbridge). Coach: J Clarke. Assistant coach: S Filgas. Manager: D Larmour.