Six Munster Players In Ireland U20 Squad For World Rugby U20 Championships
21st May 2018 By The Editor
Garryowen's Diarmuid Barron is one of six Munster players selected
Ireland U20 Head Coach Noel McNamara has named the Ireland U20 Squad, sponsored by PwC, for the World Rugby U20 Championships in France.
A total of six Munster players have been selected, including Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen), James French (UCC), Jack O’Sullivan (UCC), Dan Hurley (Young Munster), Peter Sylvester (UCC) and James McCarthy (UL Bohemian).
The tournament takes place from the 30th May – 17th June, with Ireland playing their Pool games in Perpignan and Narbonne, while the finals will take place in Stade De La Mediterranee in Béziers.
Ireland share Pool C with France, Georgia and South Africa and will face the hosts on the opening day of the tournament in Perpignan.
The 28-man squad will be captained by St. Mary’s College RFC’s Caelan Doris.
Doris, along with fellow forwards Barron and Jordan Duggan and backs Conor Dean and Michael Silvester are all set to feature at their second U20 World Championships, having been involved in Georgia last summer.
Prop Joe Byrne, hooker Dan Sheehan, wings Dan Hurley and Tom Roche and centre Sylvester are all in line for their first U20 caps in France.
On confirmation of the squad McNamara said: “It’s an exciting time for the players and management as we prepare to head to the south of France for the U20 World Championships.
“There’s a lot of talent in this squad and the players are all preparing well. We’re up against three physical sides in our pool, and with France up first, it will be a great test for the players on the opening day of the tournament and something that everyone is looking forward to.”
Feargal O’Rourke, PwC Managing Partner, said: “As a sponsor of Irish Rugby for 12 years, we’re delighted to support the U20 team in this year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in France.
“France, South Africa and Georgia is a tough group but the free scoring rugby we have seen this team play in recent months gives confidence that we can build on the performances shown during the Six Nations and deliver a strong showing in the tournament.
“Working together and reimagining the possible are two core values in PwC but the essence of these are also shared values with the IRFU. It is this great talent and teamwork, striving to ‘be the best you can be’, that makes for a winning team in business and in sport.
“This team are super ambassadors for Ireland, for Irish Rugby and for PwC and we wish them the best of luck in the upcoming games. The future is green.”
Ireland U20 Squad (World Rugby U20 Championship 2018)
Forwards
Matthew Agnew (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Joe Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster) *
Matthew Dalton (Malone RFC/Ulster)
Cormac Daly (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) Captain
Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jack Dunne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Joe Dunleavy (Malone RFC/Ulster)
James French (UCC/Munster)
Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Tom O’Toole (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Jack O’Sullivan (UCC RFC/Munster)
Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Dan Sheehan (Dublin University FC/Leinster) *
Backs
Harry Byrne (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
Dan Hurley (Young Munster/Munster)*
James Hume (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Tom Roche (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) *
Michael Silvester (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Jonny Stewart (QUB RFC/Ulster)
Peter Sylvester (UCC RFC / Munster)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)
James McCarthy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
*Denotes uncapped at this level
Unavailable due to injury
Eoghan Clarke
Angus Curtis
Ronan Kelleher
Sean Masterson
Peter Sullivan
Ireland U20 World Rugby U20 Championships Fixtures
Pool C
France v Ireland
Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan
Wednesday 30th May, 2018
KO: 21:00 (local) / 20:00 (Irish)
South Africa v Ireland
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne
Sunday 3rd June, 2018
KO: 16:30 (local) / 15:30 (Irish)
Ireland v Georgia
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne
Thursday 7th June, 2018
KO: 18:30 (local) / 17:30 (Irish)
Semi-Finals
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne OR Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan
Tuesday 12th June 2018
Finals Day
Stade De La Mediterranee in Béziers.
Sunday 17th June 2018
Ireland’s games will be shown live on Eir Sport.