Allen Clarke's side lost out on points difference to eventual winners France last year after Les Bleus defeated the Azzurri on the final weekend.

Five forwards return from last season including front row Jack O’Connell, second row David O’Callaghan and Leinster duo Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock in the back row.

Brian Hayes returns among the replacements, with Ruddock taking on the captain’s armband for the opening game.

Ireland Under-20 side to face Italy on Friday night:
15 Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 Darren Hudson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
13 Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11 Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
10 James McKinney (Queens University/Ulster)
9 John Cooney (UCD/Leinster)
1 Brian Cagney (UCC/Munster)
2 Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster)
4 David O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster)
5 Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster)
6 Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster)
7 Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8 Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:
16 David Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
17 Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
18 Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 Robin O’Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster)
20 Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21 Brian Kingston (Blackrock/Leinster)
22 Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht)