Ireland national under-20 rugby union team
 | |||
| Union | Irish Rugby Football Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem(s) | Shamrock | ||
| Ground(s) | Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,008) | ||
| Coach(es) | Willie Faloon | ||
| Captain(s) | Evan O'Connell | ||
| Most caps | Dominic Ryan (20) Iain Henderson (20) | ||
| Top scorer | Ross Byrne (129) | ||
| Most tries | Andrew Conway (14) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Ireland 17–15 Wales  (2 February 2007) | |||
| Largest win | |||
 Scotland 7–82 Ireland (10 March 2023)[1] | |||
| Largest defeat | |||
 New Zealand 69–3 Ireland (8 June 2017) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 13 (First in 2008) | ||
| Best result | 2nd, 2016, 2023 | ||
The Ireland national under-20 rugby team was formed in 2006, having previously been known as the under-21 team.
History
[edit]Ireland have won the Grand Slam four times and the Six Nations Championship five times: 2007, 2010, 2019, 2022 and 2023. In the pandemic-truncated competition in 2020, Ireland won the Triple Crown. At the time the competition was halted, Ireland were undefeated and led the table. However, this was not considered a championship nor a grand slam.[2][3][4] Ireland won two consecutive Grand Slams in the 2022 and 2023 Six Nations championships, but were denied a third consecutive Grand Slam and championship title following a draw away to England.[5] Despite Ireland and England having both recorded four wins and a draw, England were crowned champions as they had earned one more try bonus point than Ireland.[5]
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]Head coach Willie Faloon named his 30–man squad for the 2024 U20 Rugby Championship on 14 June.[6]
| Name | Date of Birth | Position | Club | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Usanov | 10 July 2005 | Prop | Clontarf | Leinster |
| Danny Sheehan | 7 April 2004 | Hooker | Cork Constitution | Munster |
| Stephen Smyth | 1 August 2004 | Hooker | Old Wesley | Leinster |
| Patreece Bell | 23 May 2004 | Prop |  Sale Sharks |
IQ Rugby |
| Jacob Boyd | 10 July 2004 | Prop | Queen's University | Ulster |
| Andrew Sparrow | 15 November 2004 | Prop | UCD | Leinster |
| Billy Corrigan | 25 June 2005 | Lock | Old Wesley | Leinster |
| Evan O'Connell (c) | 4 May 2004 | Lock | UL Bohemians | Munster |
| Alan Spicer | 4 May 2005 | Lock | UCD | Leinster |
| Bryn Ward | 17 July 2004 | Back-row | Ballynahinch | Ulster |
| Sean Edogbo | 8 May 2004 | Back-row | UCC | Munster |
| Brian Gleeson | 5 February 2004 | Back-row | Garryowen | Munster |
| Luke Murphy | 27 January 2005 | Back-row | Shannon | Munster |
| James McKillop | Back-row | Queen's University | Ulster | |
| Max Flynn | Flanker | Corinthians | Connacht | |
| Emmet Calvey | Prop | Shannon | Munster | |
| Mikey Yarr | Hooker | Lansdowne | Leinster | |
| Oliver Coffey | 13 September 2004 | Scrum-half | Blackrock College | Leinster |
| Tadhg Brophy | 18 September 2004 | Scrum-half | Naas | Leinster |
| Jake O'Riordan | 17 December 2004 | Scrum-half | UL Bohemians | Munster |
| Jack Murphy | 15 July 2004 | Fly-half | Clontarf | Leinster |
| Sean Naughton | 19 October 2004 | Fly-half | Corinthians | Connacht |
| Hugo McLaughlin | 26 May 2004 | Wing | Lansdowne | Leinster |
| Finn Treacy | 14 August 2004 | Wing | Galwegians | Connacht |
| Hugh Gavin | 10 January 2004 | Centre | Galwegians | Connacht |
| Wilhelm de Klerk | 16 August 2004 | Centre | UCD | Leinster |
| Ben O'Connor | 20 August 2004 | Fullback | UCC | Munster |
| Ruben Moloney | Fullback | UCD | Leinster | |
| Sam Berman | Centre | Terenure College | Leinster | |
| Davy Colbert | Wing | Dublin University | Leinster |
Award winners
[edit]The following Ireland U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008:[7]
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | JJ Hanrahan | — |
| 2014 | Garry Ringrose | |
| 2016 | Max Deegan | Max Deegan |
Coaching and management
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Richie Murphy |
| Forwards coach | Jimmy Duffy |
| Skills and backs coach | Mark Sexton |
| Defence coach | Willie Faloon |
| Team manager | Hendrik Kruger |
| Athletic performance coach | Martin Kennedy |
| Performance analyst | John Buckley |
| Media and communications | Ryan Bailey |
Overall record
[edit]| Opposition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | % Won | For | Aga | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 60% | 101 | 73 | +28 |
 Australia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50% | 83 | 98 | –15 |
| England | 27 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 37.04% | 609 | 747 | –138 |
 Fiji | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 131 | 30 | +101 |
 France | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 45.83% | 484 | 573 | –89 |
 Georgia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75% | 101 | 65 | +36 |
 Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 39 | 33 | +6 |
 Italy | 23 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 91.3% | 702 | 355 | +347 |
| New Zealand | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11.11% | 139 | 354 | –215 |
 Samoa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | 92 | 45 | +47 |
| Scotland | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 80.77% | 831 | 505 | +326 |
 South Africa | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 33.33% | 136 | 193 | –57 |
 Tonga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 45 | 27 | +18 |
 Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 45 | 0 | +45 |
| Wales | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 54.17% | 608 | 474 | +134 |
| Total | 161 | 95 | 4 | 62 | 59.01% | 4,146 | 3,572 | +574 |
Correct as of 22 July 2024[8]
Six Nations Under 20s Championship
[edit]| Year | Pos | Played | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | LBP | TBP | Triple Crown | Grand Slam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 90 | –34 | 3 | 13 | –10 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2009 | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 88 | –2 | 5 | 9 | –4 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2010 | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 62 | 85 | 17 | 5 | 12 | N/A | N/A | Yes | No |
| 2011 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 147 | 99 | 48 | 11 | 14 | –3 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2012 | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 46 | 40 | 7 | 4 | 3 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2013 | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 98 | 83 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 4 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2014 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 74 | 79 | –5 | 7 | 8 | –1 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2015 | 5th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 90 | 30 | 13 | 10 | 3 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2016 | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 108 | 120 | –18 | 10 | 12 | –2 | N/A | N/A | No | No |
| 2017 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 111 | 122 | –11 | 12 | 13 | –1 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 2018 | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 145 | 182 | –37 | 21 | 26 | –5 | 1 | 3 | No | No |
| 2019 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 92 | 58 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| 2020 | Cancelled | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 69 | 44 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Yes | Cancelled |
| 2021 | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 100 | 51 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 3 | No | No |
| 2022 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 65 | 145 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 4 | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 239 | 116 | 123 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 4 | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 171 | 93 | 78 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 4 | No | No |
World Rugby U20 Championship
[edit]| Year | Place | Pool | Played | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | LBP | TBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008
|
9th | A | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 127 | –15 | 11 | 13 | –2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009
|
8th | A | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 54 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010
|
9th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 154 | 118 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011
|
8th | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 120 | 183 | –63 | 11 | 24 | –13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012
|
5th | B | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 70 | 54 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013
|
8th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 121 | 86 | 35 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014
|
4th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 124 | 127 | –3 | 14 | 16 | –2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2015
|
7th | C | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 92 | –18 | 6 | 9 | –3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016
|
2nd | A | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 173 | 153 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017
|
9th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 167 | –39 | 16 | 25 | –9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018
|
11th | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 129 | 158 | –29 | 16 | 23 | –7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019
|
8th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 155 | –18 | 18 | 20 | –2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020–2022 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||||||||
| 2023
|
2nd | B | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 156 | 133 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024
|
4th* | B | 4* | 2 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 100 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| *The 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship Pool B match between Ireland and Australia was cancelled due to weather conditions, rendering the pitch unplayable and unsafe. Both teams were awarded two points.[9][10] | ||||||||||||||
Honours
[edit]See also
[edit]- Ireland national rugby union team
- Ireland Wolfhounds
- Emerging Ireland
- Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team
- Six Nations Under 20s Championship
- World Rugby Under 20 Championship
References
[edit]- ^ "U20 Six Nations: Ireland thrash Scotland to move one step closer to Grand Slam". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Ireland Under-20s Complete Grand Slam Mission With Bonus Point Flourish". Irish Rugby. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Nine-try Ireland U20s crush Scotland to claim Grand Slam success". The42. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Six-try Ireland U20s make history with back-to-back Grand Slam titles". The42. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Six Nations U20s Championship: Ireland 36 Scotland 0". Irish Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Murphy Announces Ireland Under-20 Squad For 2024 U-20 Six Nations". Irish Rugby. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Fixtures & Results". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Ireland v Australia in World U20 Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 July 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (9 July 2024). "Australia U20s coach Grey blasts call to cancel Ireland game, ending World Championship semi-final hopes". rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
External links
[edit]- Ireland U-20 Squad from official IRFU site