Ireland Under-20 v Wales

The Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, has been announced by head coach Mike Ruddock for this Friday's opening game in the RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship against Wales in Athlone.

Mike Ruddock has named an experienced side with seven players from last year's Ireland Under-20 squad included in the starting line-up to play Wales.

Buccaneers' own Daniel Qualter will link up with Iain Henderson in the second row, while fellow Connacht native Aaron Conneely is named in the back row.

Centre JJ Hanarahan makes a return to the side from last year along withSam Coghlan Murray who has been named on the left wing.

Kieran Marmion will take up the scrum half position and will partner Paddy Jackson who has been named at out-half. The Ulster-capped Jackson will also captain this year's side.

Speaking ahead of the opening game, Ruddock said: "We are all looking forward to the start of the Six Nations. It is always a tough test against Wales but preparations have been first class.

"We are confident we have prepared as best as we can and are now looking forward to transferring that training onto the pitch itself."

Friday's clash will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two, with commentary provided by Ryle Nugent and Donal Lenihan. It will also be shown on RTE.ie (Island of Ireland only).

IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Wales Under-20s, RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship, Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC, Friday, February 3, kick-off 7.05pm):

15 - Shane Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht)

14 - Barry Daly (UCD/Leinster)

13 - Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

12 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)

11 - Sam Coghlan Murray (UCD/Leinster)

10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) (capt)

9 - Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)

1 - Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

2 - Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)

3 - Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster)

4 - Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster)

5 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht)

6 - Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster)

7 - Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht)

8 - Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Des Merrey (Clontarf/Leinster)

17 - James Rael (Garryowen/Munster)

18 - Jake Cawley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

19 - Tadgh Beirne (Lansdowne/Leinster)

20 - Jordan Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)

21 - Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)

22 - Cathal Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster)

23 - Christopher Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster)

Belhanda Morocco Goal Not Enough

Morocco bowed out of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations on a high note after beating Niger 1-0 in their Group C encounter on Tuesday in Libreville.

Younes Belhanda scored the only goal of the match on 79 minutes to hand the Atlas Lions a winning note to their not impressive campaign at the tournament.

There was nothing at stake for both teams as they were playing for academic purposes but were bent on bowing out of the competition on a positive note.

The fact that there were no major changes in the line ups of the two teams affirmed the importance both teams attached to the ultimate matches of the group phase.

After a barren first half, both teams lifted up their game in their quest to score and lighten up the game.

But it was Morocco, who scored what turned out to be winner in the closing stages to seal the three points through Belhanda.

By the victory, the Atlas Lions finished on three points, six points adrift of leaders Gabon, who beat Tunisia 1-0 in Franceville. Tunisia followed on six points with Niger at the bottom pointless.

Fofana New Face for France

Uncapped centre Wesley Fofana will make his debut for beaten World Cup finalists France in their opening Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday.

Fofana, 24, will link up with Clermont team-mate Aurelien Rougerie in the centres in new boss Philippe Saint Andre's first game in charge.

"Fofana's a classy player. I want him to show what he's been showing in the Top 14," said Saint Andre.

"We've given him a chance, it's up to him to seize it."

Toulouse's Louis Picamoles starts at number eight at the expense of Imanol Harinordoquy.

Montpellier fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc returns to the side and will link up with Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili, who was preferred to Morgan Parra at scrum-half.

Ten of the players who started the World Cup final, which Les Bleus lost 8-7 to New Zealand, are in Saturday's team.

Italy won last year's encounter 22-21 to secure their first ever Six Nations win over France.

France team: Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Julien Malzieu (Clermont); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz); Vincent Debaty (Clermont), William Servat (France), Nicolas Mas (France), Pascal Pape (Stade Français), Lionel Nallet (Racing Metro), Thierry Dusautoir (Biarritz) (captain), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse),Yoann Maestri (France), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan)

Gibson Goal Helps United

Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson boosted his old club’s title chances by firing Everton to a stunning win over Manchester City tonight.

The Republic of Ireland international lashed home his first goal since quitting Old Trafford earlier this month as the Premier League leaders slipped up at Goodison Park.

The visitors hit the bar in the first half through Samir Nasri but Everton, who earlier saw a Denis Stracqualursi effort cleared off the line, again proved stubborn opposition for City.

Stracqualursi, who scored his first Everton goal in last Friday’s FA Cup win over Fulham, went close to doubling his club tally when he forced Joleon Lescott to head off the line with five minutes gone.

Stracqualursi pleaded with the assistant referee to award a goal after beating Joe Hart with a powerful header from a Leighton Baines corner but replays showed former Everton man Lescott had cleared.

City threatened after a good run by James Milner down the left but his low ball into the box was missed by Edin Dzeko and Gael Clichy sliced wide.

Referee Peter Walton ignored Royston Drenthe’s appeals for a free-kick after the Dutchman lost control of the ball and fell over in attempting to beat Vincent Kompany.

Serio Aguero brilliantly controlled a long David Silva pass to create an opportunity on the edge of the Everton box but dragged his shot wide.

Everton were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out after Gareth Barry clattered into Tim Cahill but Kompany headed away Landon Donovan’s ball into the box.

Hart was incensed after being bundled over by Stracqualursi but Walton had awarded him a free-kick before Donovan blazed over.

In a scrappy few minutes, Kompany was booked for pushing over Cahill and Marouane Fellaini’s header from the resulting corner was deflected over.

Stracqualursi then nodded down a Baines cross for Fellaini but the Belgian missed the target.

City responded with a swift counter-attack and almost opened the scoring as Nasri struck the bar with a crisp 30-yard shot. Aguero raced in for the rebound but was flagged offside.

Play was held up just before the interval when a man ran into Hart’s goalmouth at the Park End and handcuffed himself to one of the posts.

He was removed by police and led away after a short struggle but Walton played five minutes of stoppage time.

City started the second half well with Nasri whipping in a low cross which just evaded Dzeko before the Bosnian then headed straight at Tim Howard.

Aguero then had a shot deflected behind but Lescott was penalised for a foul on Howard at the resulting corner.

Aguero looked to play in Dzeko as City broke again but the striker failed to control in the box, then Everton made City pay for their failure to take advantage of their possession as they grabbed the lead just before the hour.

Drenthe forced the visitors back before Baines found Donovan in space with a cross into the box.

The American calmly laid off the ball for the inrushing Gibson, who lashed home his first goal for the club from the edge of the box, via an apparent deflection off Barry.

City tried to respond as Nasri got to the byline but his ball in bounced onto the bar and behind.

Gibson gave City another demonstration of his shooting ability moments later as he volleyed narrowly wide from 20 yards.

City appealed for a penalty for handball after Aleksandar Kolarov hit the ball at Phil Neville but Walton saw nothing untoward.

City were almost caught on the break as they protested but Micah Richards got back to deny Donovan.

Roberto Mancini’s men poured forward as time ran out but were unable to find a way through as Nasri tried his luck again but his shot was deflected into Howard’s arms.

Smith Devastated about WPS

England striker Kelly Smith says she is "devastated" after learning the 2012 Women's Professional Soccer League in the United States has been cancelled.

Smith, 33, is one of five British players who are now without a club in a year that features Euro 2013 qualification and the Olympics.

"It was a total shock to receive the email from the league," said Smith, who is England's all-time leading scorer.

"It's a big year for women's football with the Euros and Olympics."

Alex Scott, who is a team-mate of Smith's at Boston, and Sky Blue FC duo Anita Asante and Karen Bardsley are also searching for new clubs following the decision, which was taken as a result of an ongoing legal dispute with a former club owner.

Scotland defender Ifeoma Dieke, currently on loan in Sweden and highly likely to make the Great Britain Olympic squad, is also signed to Boston.

A fifth England player, Eni Aluko, had already decided to leave the US and return to England to play for Birmingham City in the Women's Super League, which she feels is more stable.

It is the second time Smith has been left without a club in America after the previous professional league failed in 2003 while she was with Philadelphia Charge.

"I've been shaking my head thinking I can't believe this has happened again," she told BBC Sport.

"If a professional women's league was going to happen anywhere it's the US but that seems to have failed, so maybe that's not the way forward.

"They play semi-pro in Sweden, Germany and England."

Smith is hopeful of landing a deal elsewhere though.

"I've already had phone calls [with offers]," she revealed. "It's about playing regularly ahead of the Olympics and Euros. I'll sit down and sort the best option.

"The deal has to be right and to be playing regular football in order to get yourself seen for England and also for the Great Britain team."

League chief Jennifer O'Sullivan said: "Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business."

The league, which features five teams - Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash - plans to return for the 2013 season.