THE Ireland schools team to meet Scotland at the Mardyke, Cork, on Saturday week, includes two players who were capped at schools level last season. They are the Blackrock College's hooker Peter Smyth and number eight Leo Cullen. Smyth played in all four internationals last season while Cullen in three.

Both played in the corresponding match last season when Ireland defeated Scotland 29-23. Smyth and Cullen are two of six players from Blackrock, the Leinster Senior Cup winners. The team will be captained by the Blackrock College flanker Barry Gibney. The side also includes the St Andrew's College second row forward Peter Bracken he is the first player from St Andrew's to be capped at this level.

Bracken will have the rare distinction of having played for Ireland at both youths and schools levels. He was capped for the Irish youths last season as a member of the Tullamore club. He was on the side that lost to Wales at Thomond Park, and on the team that defeated Scotland 15-11 in Millbrae.