Getting To Know | Munster Players In Ireland U20s Squad

Seven Munster players have been included in the Ireland U20 squad for their opening 6 Nations fixture against England at Irish Independent Park tonight (7.15pm).

Shannon’s Jake Flannery and Craig Casey, Young Munster’s Conor Phillips and Josh Wycherley, Cork Con’s Jonathan Wren and UCC’s John Hodnett are named in the starting XV, while Cork Con’s Seán French is among the replacements.

Find out more about the Munster players that will feature against England below.

Jake Flannery

The Shannon out-half who can also play at full-back, made his Munster A debut in the Celtic Cup against Dragons A in September.

From the village of Bansha in Co. Tipperary, Flannery has previously represented Ireland at U19 level.

The former Rockwell College pupil earned maximum points in his Leaving Cert and played a key part in the school’s advancement to the semi-final stage of last year’s Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup competition.

Conor Phillips

The Young Munster winger lined out for Crescent College Comprehensive during his school days and has represented Munster at U18, U19 and U20 level.

Phillips has impressed with performances for both the Ireland U18s and U19s with his ability to beat defenders and score tries.

The speedster lined out for Munster A in the Celtic Cup earlier this season.

John Hodnett

From Rosscarbery, Hodnett developed his rugby with Clonakilty RFC when he joined as an U10 player.

The UCC back row has featured in several Munster age-grade squads and has gained representative honours with Ireland U18s.

Hodnett made the step up to the Munster A side this season, scoring a try against an Ospreys Development side in the Celtic Cup.

Craig Casey

A Munster Academy and Shannon scrum-half, Casey is the vice-captain of the Ireland U20 side.

A nephew of former Munster winger Mossy Lawler, Casey captained Ardscoil Rís to the semi-finals of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2017.

Also a talented placekicker, he has represented both Munster and Ireland at U18 Schools level, captaining the latter in the U18 International Series in April 2017.

Seán French

A Cork Constitution clubman and UCC student, Munster Academy player French has represented Munster at U18, U19 and U20 level and has also played for the Ireland U18s and U19s.

Adept at playing in the centre and on the wing, French played his schools rugby with PBC and won the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2017.

A strong start to his first season in the Academy has seen 19-year-old French make five appearances and score two tries for Munster A in the Celtic Cup.

Jonathan Wren

From Crosshaven in Cork, Munster Academy man Wren started playing rugby at an early age with Crosshaven RFC.

He represented Munster and Ireland at U18 and U19 level prior to joining the Academy and was a Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with PBC in 2017.

The Cork man impressed for the Ireland U20s in their December clashes against a Leinster A/Development side and a Munster A/Development side.

Josh Wycherley

West Cork man and Academy prop Josh Wycherley is a product of Bantry Bay RFC and younger brother of senior player Fineen Wycherley.

He made four appearances for Munster A in the 2018/19 Celtic Cup and was signed up to the Academy in November 2018.

Wycherley has represented Ireland at U18 and U19 level, is a former pupil of Cistercian College, Roscrea, and plays his club rugby with Young Munster.

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