Munster’s Ireland U20s Representatives

We profile our Munster U20s players who have been called up for National duty this weekend when they take on Wales for their first game in the RBS U20s 6 Nations.

Five Munster players were named earlier today in the match-day squad, four of which lined out for Munster U20s in last season’s Interprovincial campaign, Sean McCarthy, Rory Scannell, Brian Scott and Darren Sweetnam.

Ryan Murphy missed out on his second Interprovincial series at U20s level with a shoulder injury but continued to progress on his return from surgery to be included in the National training camps.

Meet the players…

Sean McCarthy

The second row Currow native is nephew of Munster great Mick Galwey, and like him before, plays his club rugby with Shannon.

He captained his school side Rockwell to a Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2012 and a few weeks later went on to play for Ireland U19s with Ryan Murphy against France and England.

Sean is in the Munster sub academy and turns 20 this February. Other representations include playing basketball for Ireland U16s and minor football with Kerry in 2011.

Ryan Murphy
In his first year of the Munster Rugby Academy and at 19 years of age the back row made his first appearance at A Interpro level in November and more recently made his B&I Cup debut against Rotherham in December.

He lined out for the Ireland U19s in April 2012 against France and England, and featured on a Munster sevens side that travelled to Glasgow.

He played his schools rugby with PBC & captained the side to a Schools Senior Cup Final in 2011 against Rockwell. He now plays his club rugby with Dolphin.

Rory Scannell
Rory is in the Munster sub academy and is the younger brother of Academy hooker Niall Scannell.

From Cork the 19 year old centre played his schools rugby with PBC and now plays his club rugby with Dolphin.

He has represented Munster at U18 Schools, and at U20s level for the last two seasons. This is his first inclusion in the Ireland U20s squad having previously played for Ireland U18 Schools with Ryan Murphy in 2011 when they won the FIRA-AER European Championship.

Brian Scott
Youghal native Brian plays tight and loose-head prop and has also played hooker in underage Munster representative games.

Turning 20 in March Scott plays his club rugby with UCC where his Uncle Peter Scott is Forwards Coach.

In the sub academy he played his schools rugby with PBC and played on the same Senior Cup side as Scannell and Murphy that reached the finals in 2011.

He represented Irish U18 Schools in 2010 with Sean McCarthy, Ryan Murphy and Rory Scannell v England and has also played cricket at Inter-provincial level.

Darren Sweetnam
Sweetnam from Dunmanway, Co. Cork is in his first year of the Munster Rugby Academy.

The 19 year old played his schools rugby with Bandon Grammar and now plays his club rugby with UCC. This is his first inclusion in a national age-grade rugby side.

Sweetnam made his Munster A debut in the B&I Cup against Plymouth Albion in January 2013.

Darren is widely known in Cork for his hurling credentials after playing with club side Dohenys GAA and lining out for the Cork Senior Hurlers in the Allianz League and the Championship in 2012. He has also represented Ireland in hockey at U16s.