Thomond On Sunday For Munster Youths Finals

The Munster Youths U-18 and U-16 finals will take place at Thomond Park this Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a very exciting day of rugby at the Limerick venue.

Newcastle West-Estuary face Bruff in the U-18 decider at 12pm with Waterpark and Young Munster competing in the U-16 final at 1:45pm.

Holders Bruff are slight favourites ahead of the U-18 final having beaten Newcastle West-Estuary 18-17 in a thrilling North Munster League final.

Tony Clifford, chairman of the underage section in Bruff and one of the managers of their U-18 team, is looking forward to a special day for youths’ rugby in the province.

“I think youths rugby has come a long way in the last couple of years so it deserves its day in the sun,” says Clifford.

“We’re very happy to be playing at Thomond Park, we were on the back pitch for last year’s final so it’s a big move forward and no matter who wins it’s going to be a good day for youths rugby."

The Conor Magner-coached Newcastle West-Estuary side will be hopeful of getting one over on their rivals as co-manager John Liston explains: “We’ve been unlucky against Bruff down through the years.
The Newcastle West-Estuary squad

"They beat us in the U-16s North Munster final, the U-18s North Munster final and the quarter-final of this competition last year so Bruff are certainly the team for us to beat.

"They’re the favourites because every time we meet them in the final they win it so they deserve their favourites tag. They’re really our bogey side so we’d like to reverse the role for once in our favour."

The U-16 final features two very strong sides with Limerick's Young Munster and Waterford's Waterpark – captained by Nick O'Donoghue, brother of Munster Academy player Jack O'Donoghue – set to contest another tight affair.

Sunday, April 12

Munster Youths U-18 Final

Newcastle West-Estuary v Bruff, Thomond Park, 12pm;


Munster Youths U-16 Final

Waterpark v Young Munster, Thomond Park, 1:45pm;