Rugby: Team check

Ireland Under-25/ Development XV v Japan, Ravenhill, tonight, 7.30

Ireland Under-25/ Development XV v Japan, Ravenhill, tonight, 7.30

IRELAND: G D'Arcy (Leinster); C McMahon (Munster), J Kelly (Munster), S Stewart (Ulster), K Campbell (London Irish); J Staunton, T Tierney; M Horan (all Munster), P Smyth (Leinster), S Best (Ulster), B Casey (Leinster), M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan (both Munster), T McWhirter (Ulster, capt), D Wallace (Munster). Replacements: S Keogh, M McHugh (both Leinster), B Cunningham (Ulster), M Cahill, J O'Connor (both Connacht), L Cullen (Leinster), R Weir (Ulster).

JAPAN: G Tachikawa; D Ohata, R Kawai, H Yoshida, P Tuidraki; S Fuchigami, K Ohara; T Fumihara, N Yasuda, N Nakamura, H Tanuma, T Akatsuka, H Sugawara, Y Watanabe, K Kubo. Replacements: M Amino, M Toyoyama, K Todd, T Ito, M Ito, K Hirose, M Oda.

Referee: C Berdos (France).

READ MORE

Wales v Samoa Cardiff, Saturday

Graham Henry has restored Arwel Thomas to the Wales team. Swansea outhalf Thomas will win his 21st cap, but the first under Henry, when Wales take on Samoa at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday. Thomas last appeared for his country against South Africa more than two years ago, but his outstanding club form this season means that he reclaims the number 10 jersey from Neil Jenkins, who is named as a substitute.

WALES (v Samoa): R Williams (Cardiff); A Bateman (Northampton), M Taylor (Swansea, capt), S Gibbs (Swansea), S Williams (Neath); A Thomas (Swansea), R Howley (Cardiff); I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), G Jenkins (Swansea), B Evans (Swansea), I Gough (Newport), D Jones (Ebbw Vale), G Lewis (Swansea), C Charvis (Swansea), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: D James (Llanelli), N Jenkins (Cardiff), R Moon (Llanelli), N Budgett (Ebbw Vale), J Griffiths (Swansea), S John (Cardiff), A Lewis (Cardiff).