Ireland U20s 2023

[munster#1]

Quinny almost sounded like he wanted to blame Leinster for having so many players on the U.20 Squad. However, he should look at the representation from Connacht and wonder where has Munster's development pathway failed, in relative terms.

By most accounts, the only green jerseys that the majority of Limerick young fellows aspire to is a Limerick hurling one. Playing for your country at the top of a world game isn't a dominant ambition in Limerick. And yet Munster players like Gleeson, Quinn and O'Connell are three of the stars of this Squad and surely they should be the players to attract young Munster lads of 15, 16 and 17 to play, possibly alongside them, in the Rugby World Cup of 2027 or 2031, in the green of Ireland, supported by the entire country.

Picking up players as they represent their private Schools in the Munster or Leinster Schools Cup is only one source of future Under 20 players. Their contemporaries exist in every Club in the Under 13 or 17 Youth Squad if only they had more encouragement.

Ireland just won 2 grand slams in 2 days, yet your post is in reference to Munster?

[munster#1]

What an absolutely unreal weekend for Irish Rugby.
I have clocked up a fair few miles, spent a fair few euros and have no voice left, but it was so worth it.

To win 2 grand slams at home is something we may never witness again in most of our life times.

Looking at the talent in display today, it is clear that we have a special group in our hands.
The IRFU should do all in their powers to ensure that these players are nurtured, and where appropriate, fast tracked.

[Sugary tae]

Great performance. Some great prospects. Can’t wait to see some of these guys step up to the provinces.

[the spoofer]

I'm not sure what his kicking is like as he hardly ever used it but it looks like we could have our back up 15 in McErlean. Him and Gleeson were the real finds from my viewpoint as I already knew about Prendergast.

[Oldschoolsocks]

I'm not sure what his kicking is like as he hardly ever used it but it looks like we could have our back up 15 in McErlean. Him and Gleeson were the real finds from my viewpoint as I already knew about Prendergast.

The only issue with McErlean is can he be tempted from Terenure and his shared dream of winning the AIL

[the spoofer]

I'm not sure what his kicking is like as he hardly ever used it but it looks like we could have our back up 15 in McErlean. Him and Gleeson were the real finds from my viewpoint as I already knew about Prendergast.

The only issue with McErlean is can he be tempted from Terenure and his shared dream of winning the AIL

Or will Ulster offer him a full contract to move back up north?

[blockhead]

For Prendergast's cross-field kick for the try in the 2nd half, both commentator and co-comms said that it was a miss-kick???
If he kicked with a higher trajectory the defender would have been competing for the ball, any longer and it would have been off the pitch.
It was a perfect kick, it was the only way he could get the ball to (cant remember his name).
Stupid commentators!

[blockhead]

What an absolutely unreal weekend for Irish Rugby.
I have clocked up a fair few miles, spent a fair few euros and have no voice left, but it was so worth it.

To win 2 grand slams at home is something we may never witness again in most of our life times.

Looking at the talent in display today, it is clear that we have a special group in our hands.
The IRFU should do all in their powers to ensure that these players are nurtured, and where appropriate, fast tracked.

Fair play M#1 you lucky boll!x. What a paddies weekend it was.

[mildlyinterested]

Irish U19's to date:

LH Prop
Jacob Boyd (Ulster/RBAI)
Tom O’Riordan (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
Sean Hopkins (Connacht/Ballina RFC)

Hooker
Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
Zac Solomon (Ulster/Campbell/Belfast Harlequins RFC)

TH Prop
Adam Deay (Leinster/Tullow RFC/Lansdowne FC)
Flynn Longstaff (Ulster/Campbell College)
Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)

Lock
James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
Joe Hopes (Ulster/Campbell/Queens RFC)
Michael Colreavy (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Wexford RFC/Lansdowne FC)

Backrow
James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
Jacob Sheahan (Munster/PBC/UCC RFC)
Bryn Ward (Ulster/RBAI)
Tom Brigg (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)
Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian College Roscrea)

Scrumhalf
Oliver Coffey (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)

Outhalf
Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray)

Centre
Sam Berman (Leinster/St. Michaels/Dublin University FC)
Luke Kritzinger (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Wilhelm de Klerk (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC)
Tom Larke (Leinster/Old Wesley RFC)

Back Three
Hugo McLaughlin (Leinster/Gonzaga College)
Lucas Kenny (Uster/Campbell College)
Jules Fenelon (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
Sean Condon (Munster/PBC/UCC)
Ben O’Connor (Munster/Presentation College Cork)
Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
David Colbert (Leinster/Gonzaga/Dublin University FC)
Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methodist College)
Ethan Graham (Ulster/Monaghan RFC/Ballynahinch RFC)

[sunshiner1]

We seem to be getting reamed at U-18 and U-19 recently in results. Are these bad crops or is it a case of them not having much time together?

[mildlyinterested]

We seem to be getting reamed at U-18 and U-19 recently in results. Are these bad crops or is it a case of them not having much time together?

Not much time together and not as physically developed/powerful.

All this talk of the schools providing ready made pros is some bs

[neill_m]

World Rugby confirms it will trial 'TMO Bunker' at the U20 World Championship in June. NO orange cards or 20 minute red cards. World Rugby confirms this could also be in place for the 2023 World Cup if trial is successful.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/sta ... 01411?s=20

[Observingprop123]

When will the squad for the world Cup be released? Will it be the same as u20s 6 nations or will some 19s be selected and will better players be left to train for the upcoming season.

[cormac]

Would hope they’ll be going full metal jacket for this tournament and bring their strongest available squad. Wouldn’t want to run the risk of getting relegated.

I see that Georgia beat England in a pre-tournament friendly.

[ronk]

Paddy McCarthy interview
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rug ... 52018.html

[naraic]

When will the squad for the world Cup be released? Will it be the same as u20s 6 nations or will some 19s be selected and will better players be left to train for the upcoming season.

I don't think that there will be anyone left in the provinces. The Rugby World Cup means the league will start late. There isn't the same need to plan for a bunch of league games starting the same time as the world cup (when the provinces will be missing players). Also theres no standout U20 players likely to get significant minutes early in the season.

Prendergast is the most likely but Harry is likely to be the starting 10 for the first few games of the season. Frawley will probably be left out of the RWC squad too as extra cover.

There may be a couple of players added who were injured during the six nations and maybe some 19s but not many.

[whiscash02]

Ireland U20s beat Italy U20s 45 - 24 in a warm up game in Italy. No idea of the Irish team though.

https://www.federugby.it/index.php?opti ... temid=1025

[naraic]

Ireland U20s beat Italy U20s 45 - 24 in a warm up game in Italy. No idea of the Irish team though.

https://www.federugby.it/index.php?opti ... temid=1025

It was a friendly in which the entire 30 man squad got minutes. One of those games.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 43654.html

[hugonaut]

Would hope they’ll be going full metal jacket for this tournament and bring their strongest available squad. Wouldn’t want to run the risk of getting relegated.

I see that Georgia beat England in a pre-tournament friendly.

This is a tournament that we can do really well in.

We've got a really strong pack of forwards and enough depth in the pack that the tight schedule shouldn't be too much to put us off our stride.
Lads like Danny Sheahan, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O'Connell and Liam Molony all proved themselves in the Six Nations and would have seen more action in other years ... of course, a couple of those lads are eligible next year as well.

1. Hadden
2. G. McCarthy/Sheahan
3. P. McCarthy/Barrett
4. O'Tighearnaigh
5. Mangan/O'Connell
6. McNabney/Mangan
7. Quinn/Molony
8. Gleeson

Group games
Saturday 24.06.23 vs England
Thursday 29.06.23 vs Australia
Tusday 04.07.23 vs Fiji

[Observingprop123]

George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)
George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Max Clein (Garryowen/Munster)*
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)
Dan Barron (Dublin University/Leinster)*

Backs (13):

Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)
Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)*
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Dublin University/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Andrew Osborne (Naas/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)
*Denotes Uncapped at U20s Level