Munster Age-Grade Players Busy On International Scene

It has been a busy Easter break for some of Munster’s age-grade players as they have been representing Ireland in a number of different fixtures.

Ireland U18 Schools

The Ireland U18 Schools squad kicked off their U18 Men’s Six Nations festival with a 36-20 win over Scotland on Saturday in Dublin. Six Munster players; Jed O’Dwyer, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Mark Fitzgerald, Emmett Calvey, Michael Foy and Luke Murphy; started for Ireland that day with Oisin Minogue and Dylan Hicks named among the replacements. O’Leary Kareem notched a conversion at the end as Ireland got off to a winning start.

Paul Barr’s side will be out against Wales in Donnybrook on Wednesday evening (KO 5.30pm) for their second match of this season’s tournament. On Sunday, Ireland take on England at the same venue with a kick-off time of 4.30pm.

Ireland U18 Women

The Ireland U18 Women’s squad experienced mixed results on the opening day of the U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival at Wellington College in England. On Saturday, Ireland lost out to France 24-15 before beating Italy 10-0.

To promote an appropriate and competitive playing environment, teams will each play four 35-minute fixtures across the first two match days followed by one full 70-minute fixture on the final match day.

This format allows each team to play one another, every player to start at least one fixture and each Union to benchmark the progress of their female athletes across the competitive spectrum.

Munster’s Caitriona Finn, Lily Morris, Saskia Wycherley and Beth Buttimer all started for Ireland during the loss to France while Grainne Burke, Lucia Linn and Lyndsey Clarke were named among the replacements.

Munster’s Clarke, Linn, Finn, Burke and Buttimer all started for Ireland during the 10-0 win over Italy with Morris and Wycherley named among the replacements. Buttimer scored Ireland’s second try to secure the win.

On Tuesday, Ireland ran out 31-5 winners over Scotland before losing out to England 14-5.

Munster’s Linn, Finn, Burke, Buttimer, Morris and Wycherley started the win over Scotland with Clarke named among the replacements. Morris, Linn, Buttimer and Clarke all scored tries for Ireland with Finn notching three conversions.

In the narrow loss against England, Munster’s Clarke, Linn, Finn, Morris and Wycherley all started while Burke and Buttimer were named among the replacements. Ireland’s only try came from Munster’s Morris.

The tournament concludes on Saturday with Ireland playing only their second full international at this level against Wales (kick-off 2.15pm).

Ireland U19 Men

The Ireland U19s were also in action at the weekend as they fell to a defeat to France in Graulhet. Munster Rugby Academy second-row Evan O’Connell captained Ireland at the weekend and they will be in action against France once again on Wednesday (KO 6pm).

Other Munster players involved included Stephen Kiely, Ben O’Connor, Jake O’Riordan, Danny Sheahan and Jacob Sheahan.