Ireland u20 6 nations and world championship 2021

The Lost Sheep

an extended Ireland Under-20 squad have gathered at the IRFU HPC for a two-day camp.
No names but IRFU tweeted about it today. Normally post about players who've played previous year and likely players but will be slightly different for obvious reasons. Much harder to suggest other players who could come from further afield with so little rugby played.
https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1341345313353834498

bayern

LH Prop
Jack Boyle(Michaels/Leinster) - u19
George Saunderson(Sullivan/Ulster)
Mark Donnelly(CBC/Munster)
Hugo O'Malley(Blackrock/Leinster)

TH Prop
Oscar Egan(Coleraine/Ulster)
Sam Illo(Wesley/Leinster)
Ben Griffin(Castleknock/Leinster)
Paddy McAlpine(Campbell/Ulster)

Hooker
Tom Stewart(BRA/Ulster)
Lee Barron(Michaels/Leinster)
James McCormick(Dalradia/Ulster) - u19
Eoin de Buitlear(An Gaelthacht/Connacht)

Lock
Joe McCarthy(Blackrock/Leinster)
Mark Morrissey(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19
Harry Sheridan(Sullivan/Ulster)
Darragh Murray(Buccaneers/Connacht)

Backrow
Alex Soroka(Belvedere/Leinster)
Will Hickey(Michaels/Leinster)
Mark Boyle(Gorey/Leinster)
Hubert Costello(Corinthians/Connacht)
Oisin McCormack(Ballinasloe/Connacht)
Donnacha Byrne(Sligo/Connacht)
Diarmuid McCormack(Clongowes/Connacht)
Alex Kendellen(PBC/Munster)
Daniel Okeke(Ardscoil Ris/Munster)
Nick Greene(Bandon Grammar/Munster) - u19
Conor Moloney(Ennis RFC/Munster) - u19
Rueben Crothers(Wallace/Ulster) - u19

Scrumhalf
Nathan Doak(Wallace/Ulster)
Conor McKee(Ulster)
Ben Murphy(Pres Bray/Munster)
Will Reilly(Portlaoise/Leinster)
Matthew Devine(Ballinasloe/Connacht) - u19
Ethan Coughlan(Ennis RFC/Munster) - u19

Outhalf
Tim Corkery(Kilkenny RFC/Leinster)
Charlie Tector(Kilkenny/Leinster) - u19
Cian Whooley(CBC/Munster)
Cathal Forde(Corinthians/Connacht)

Outside Backs
Ben Moxham(Ballymena/Ulster)
Conor Rankin(Campbell/Ulster)
Jude Postlethwaite(RBAI/Ulster) - u19
Ben Carson(Wallace/Ulster)
Shane Jennings(Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht)
Hubert Gilvarry(Sligo RFC/Connacht)
Rory McCleane(Oughterard RFC/Connacht)
Marcus Kiely(Newbridge/Leinster)
Karl Martin(Boyne RFC/Leinster) - u19
Jamie Osborne(Naas RFC/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave(Michaels/Leinster)
Shane Mallon(Longford RFC-Roscrea/Leinster) - u19
Harry O'Riordan(CBC/Munster)
Alan Flannery(Rockwell/Munster)
Aaron Leahy(CBC/Munster)
Dan Kelly(Leicester)

bayern

video on camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3jFaK4ffvc&ab_channel=IrishRugbyTV

Locke_Lamora

Is Dan Kelly likely to be involved again having accepted an academy place in England? Handy player but surely we’d look to develop players who are committed or might possibly commit to playing in Ireland. Certainly some better centres available to choose from this year I think.

RuPi

Saw a journalist on Twitter say that Kelly still was committed to Ireland - will see closer to six nations once academy players are added into the squad if he is there but you are right centre is certainly a strong area of the squad.

Purist98

Harry Colbert there too

alanb92

The pack is likely to be very impressive again this year. Boyle, Stewart, McCarthy, Soroka and Kendellan are all future Internationals in waiting, in my opinion.
Anyone willing to take a stab at the likely 23?

theVersatile

I'd say for the pack, something along the lines of:

Donnelly Stewart ANOther
Mccarthy Murray
Soroka Hickey Kendellan

I wouldn't be able to comment on tight heads. I think Kendellan came on at 7 in the dodgily streamed A game but I'd have to double check I know he's played most of his rugby up to eight.

alanb92

theVersatile wrote: »

I'd say for the pack, something along the lines of:

Donnelly Stewart ANOther
Mccarthy Murray
Soroka Hickey Kendellan

I wouldn't be able to comment on tight heads. I think Kendellan came on at 7 in the dodgily streamed A game but I'd have to double check I know he's played most of his rugby up to eight.

Cheers. It will be interesting to see if we play Soroka at second row for any games. Reuben Crothers seems to be highly rated in Ulster and is a proper no.7 from what I’ve heard, therefore may provide more balance to the back row (with Hickey likely at 6 and Kendellen at 8).

In the backs, there will be big competition at centre. Moxham came on for Ulster last night and looked a big unit. Possibly could see him on the wing for the 20’s given the number of centre options. I’m interested to see how Shane Jennings has progressed from under 18 level now that he has focused on rugby.

The Lost Sheep

alanb92 wrote: »

Cheers. It will be interesting to see if we play Soroka at second row for any games. Reuben Crothers seems to be highly rated in Ulster and is a proper no.7 from what I’ve heard, therefore may provide more balance to the back row (with Hickey likely at 6 and Kendellen at 8).

In the backs, there will be big competition at centre. Moxham came on for Ulster last night and looked a big unit. Possibly could see him on the wing for the 20’s given the number of centre options. I’m interested to see how Shane Jennings has progressed from under 18 level now that he has focused on rugby.

Not like Jennings wasnt focused before.....
Always played both hurling and rugby to high level
Soroka may be option in 2nd row but would think he'll be in backrow more.

bayern

1. Boyle
2. Stewart
3. Egan
4. Murray
5. McCarthy
6. Soroka
7. Hickey
8. Kendellan

alanb92

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Not like Jennings wasnt focused before.....
Always played both hurling and rugby to high level
Soroka may be option in 2nd row but would think he'll be in backrow more.

He doesn’t play hurling anymore though does he? I.e. he is focused on rugby..

realhorrorshow

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Not like Jennings wasnt focused before.....
Always played both hurling and rugby to high level
Soroka may be option in 2nd row but would think he'll be in backrow more.

Two seasons ago he was a schoolboy playing two sports, now he is 18~ months into a full time academy programme. Of course he is more focused on rugby now. The level of pedantry and nitpickery on here is unbearable sometimes.

The Lost Sheep

alanb92 wrote: »

He doesn’t play hurling anymore though does he? I.e. he is focused on rugby..

He doesnt but doesnt mean he wasnt focused on rugby.

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Two seasons ago he was a schoolboy playing two sports, now he is 18~ months into a full time academy programme. Of course he is more focused on rugby now. The level of pedantry and nitpickery on here is unbearable sometimes.

It isnt nit picking or pedantic. The OP said now he's focusing on rugby implies that he wasnt before which isnt true.

realhorrorshow

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

He doesnt but doesnt mean he wasnt focused on rugby.

It isnt nit picking or pedantic. The OP said now he's focusing on rugby implies that he wasnt before which isnt true.

I don’t think he was implying anything. A professional athlete has more time to devote to rugby than a Leaving Cert student playing two codes, that’s just a reality and does not cast any negative implications over the player in question.

alanb92

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

He doesnt but doesnt mean he wasnt focused on rugby.

It isnt nit picking or pedantic. The OP said now he's focusing on rugby implies that he wasnt before which isnt true.

You must have misinterpreted me. I meant that he is focused solely on rugby now, rather than playing hurling as well, so that should stand to benefit him and he is likely to have improved a lot from under 18’s when he played both sports.

The Lost Sheep

alanb92 wrote: »

You must have misinterpreted me. I meant that he is focused solely on rugby now, rather than playing hurling as well, so that should stand to benefit him and he is likely to have improved a lot from under 18’s when he played both sports.

Thats more understandable. Just saying he is focused on rugby now is what i saw as wrong. Wouldnt say someone playing interpros/international etc wasnt focused on the sport even if playing other sports to a high level

theVersatile

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1343597193735905282?s=19

More footage of the 20s camp, along with an interview with Mark Donnelly.

bayern

players spotted in camp:

LH Prop
Mark Donnelly(CBC/Munster)
George Saunderson(Sullivan/Ulster)
Jack Boyle(Michaels/Leinster) - u19
Aaron Rowan(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19

TH Prop
Oscar Egan(Coleraine/Ulster)
Ben Griffin(Castleknock/Leinster)
Sam Illo(Wesley/Leinster)

Hooker
Lee Barron(Michaels/Leinster)
Ronan Loughnane(Roscrea/Leinster)

Lock
Mark Morrissey(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19
Harry Sheridan(Sullivan/Ulster)
Jay Traynor(Waterpark RFC/Munster)

Backrow
Will Hickey(Michaels/Leinster)
Mark Boyle(Gorey RFC/Leinster)
Aaron Coleman(Belvedere/Leinster)
Diarmuid McCormack(Clongowes/Connacht)
Daniel Okeke(Ardscoil Ris/Munster)

Scrumhalf
Will Reilly(Portlaoise RFC/Leinster)
Conor McKee(Sullivan/Ulster)

Outhalf
Cian Whooley(CBC/Munster)
Harry Colbert(Gonzaga/Leinster)
James Humphreys(Queens/Ulster)

Outside Backs
Alan Flannery(Rockwell/Munster)
Marcus Kiely(Newbridge/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave(Michaels/Leinster)
Matthew McGetrick(Terenure/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite(RBAI/Ulster) - u19
Hubert Gilvarry(Sligo/Connacht)

RuPi

bayern wrote: »

players spotted in camp:

LH Prop
Mark Donnelly(CBC/Munster)
George Saunderson(Sullivan/Ulster)
Jack Boyle(Michaels/Leinster) - u19
Aaron Rowan(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19

TH Prop
Oscar Egan(Coleraine/Ulster)
Ben Griffin(Castleknock/Leinster)
Sam Illo(Wesley/Leinster)

Hooker
Lee Barron(Michaels/Leinster)
Ronan Loughnane(Roscrea/Leinster)

Lock
Mark Morrissey(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19
Harry Sheridan(Sullivan/Ulster)
Jay Traynor(Waterpark RFC/Munster)

Backrow
Will Hickey(Michaels/Leinster)
Mark Boyle(Gorey RFC/Leinster)
Aaron Coleman(Belvedere/Leinster)
Diarmuid McCormack(Clongowes/Connacht)
Daniel Okeke(Ardscoil Ris/Munster)

Scrumhalf
Will Reilly(Portlaoise RFC/Leinster)
Conor McKee(Sullivan/Ulster)

Outhalf
Cian Whooley(CBC/Munster)
Harry Colbert(Gonzaga/Leinster)

Outside Backs
Alan Flannery(Rockwell/Munster)
Marcus Kiely(Newbridge/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave(Michaels/Leinster)
Matthew McGetrick(Terenure/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite(RBAI/Ulster) - u19

James Humphreys is running at 10 for the Maroon side in some of the clips.

Paul Smeenus

RuPi wrote: »

James Humphreys is running at 10 for the Maroon side in some of the clips.

David's son?

RuPi

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

David's son?

Yeh, had been in the Gloucester academy, is now part of the Ulster sub academy and at Queens, not sure if he is an Under 19 or Under 20.

Paul Smeenus

RuPi wrote: »

Yeh, had been in the Gloucester academy, is now part of the Ulster sub academy and at Queens, not sure if he is an Under 19 or Under 20.

Have heard good things about him. Never know though - people make such a big sentimentalist deal about fathers and sons in rugby, and it colours a lot of opinions. They ain't racehorses.

Still, could be back to the future in a few years with a 9) Doak 10) Humphreys line-up at Ulster...

bayern

notable u20's not spotted:

Tom Stewart(Hooker/Ulster)
Joe McCarthy(Lock/Leinster)
Darragh Murray(Lock/Connacht)
Alex Soroka(Lock-Backrow/Leinster)
Oisin McCormack(Backrow/Connacht)
Diarmuid Byrne(Backrow/Connacht)
Hubert Costello(Backrow/Connacht)
Alex Kendellan(Backrow/Munster)
Rueben Crothers(Backrow/Ulster)
Nathan Doak(Scrumhalf/Ulster)
Ben Murphy(Scrumhalf/Munster)
Cathal Forde(Outhalf/Connacht)
Tim Corkery(Outhalf/Leinster)
Charlie Tector(Outhalf/Leinster)
Dan Kelly(Centre)
Karl Martin(Centre/Leinster)
Ben Moxham(Centre/Ulster)
Ben Carson(Centre/Ulster)
Harry O'Riordan(Centre/Munster)
Shane Jennings(Centre/Connacht)
Aaron Leahy(Wing/Munster)
Shane Mallon(Wing/Leinster)
Conor Rankin(Fullback/Ulster)
Jamie Osborne(Outside Back/Leinster)

Wegians89

bayern wrote: »

notable u20's not spotted:

Tom Stewart(Hooker)
Joe McCarthy(Lock)
Darragh Murray(Lock)
Alex Soroka(Lock/Backrow)
Oisin McCormack(Backrow)
Diarmuid Byrne(Backrow)
Hubert Costello(Backrow)
Alex Kendellan(Backrow)
Rueben Crothers(Backrow)
Nathan Doak(Scrumhalf)
Ben Murphy(Scrumhalf)
Cathal Forde(Outhalf)
Tim Corkery(Outhalf)
Charlie Tector(Outhalf)
Dan Kelly(Centre)
Karl Martin(Centre)
Ben Moxham(Centre)
Ben Carson(Centre)
Harry O'Riordan(Centre)
Aaron Leahy(Wing)
Shane Mallon(Wing)
Conor Rankin(Fullback)
Jamie Osborne(Outside Back)

Shane Jennings? Were all these players playing with the A teams or is that a stretch?

Paul Smeenus

bayern wrote: »

notable u20's not spotted:

Tom Stewart(Hooker)
Joe McCarthy(Lock)
Darragh Murray(Lock)
Alex Soroka(Lock/Backrow)
Oisin McCormack(Backrow)
Diarmuid Byrne(Backrow)
Hubert Costello(Backrow)
Alex Kendellan(Backrow)
Rueben Crothers(Backrow)
Nathan Doak(Scrumhalf)
Ben Murphy(Scrumhalf)
Cathal Forde(Outhalf)
Tim Corkery(Outhalf)
Charlie Tector(Outhalf)
Dan Kelly(Centre)
Karl Martin(Centre)
Ben Moxham(Centre)
Ben Carson(Centre)
Harry O'Riordan(Centre)
Aaron Leahy(Wing)
Shane Mallon(Wing)
Conor Rankin(Fullback)
Jamie Osborne(Outside Back)

Moxham was playing for Ulster against Connacht.

bayern

Wegians89 wrote: »

Shane Jennings? Were all these players playing with the A teams or is that a stretch?

there were players in camp who also played for the A's so not mutually exclusive.. imagine most were required by their province for training

Dubinusa

I thought Ben Murphy was with Leinster?

The Lost Sheep

Wegians89 wrote: »

Shane Jennings? Were all these players playing with the A teams or is that a stretch?

No a lot were not.

Dubinusa wrote: »

I thought Ben Murphy was with Leinster?

He's in Leinster sub academy but played a Munster A game a few weeks back

bayern

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

No a lot were not.

He's in Leinster sub academy but played a Munster A game a few weeks back

He is not in the leinster sub academy.. he signed for Munster and has been training with them for weeks.. has also been named in their european squad.

The Lost Sheep

bayern wrote: »

He is not in the leinster sub academy.. he signed for Munster and has been training with them for weeks.. has also been named in their european squad.

was in. mistyped and he is only on loan.

bayern

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

was in. mistyped and he is only on loan.

he has never had a leinster contract, so not sure how this "loan" works..

He has been signed by Munster from the Leinster sub academy and is now a Munster player.

Paul Smeenus

Tom Stewart has a hamstring injury - hence Bradley Roberts getting his rattle onpitch.

bayern

2 more players who were in camp:

Lock: John Force(PBC/Munster)
Backrow: Jack Kelleher(PBC/Munster)

bayern

Dan Kelly not named in english u20 elite squad.

bayern

Potential irish u20 squad players:

LH Prop
Jack Boyle(Michaels/Leinster) - u19
George Saunderson(Sullivan/Ulster)
Mark Donnelly(CBC/Munster)
Hugo O'Malley(Blackrock/Leinster)
Aaron Rowan(Blackorck/Leinster) - u19

TH Prop
Oscar Egan(Coleraine/Ulster)
Sam Illo(Wesley/Leinster)
Ben Griffin(Castleknock/Leinster)
Paddy McAlpine(Campbell/Ulster)

Hooker
Tom Stewart(BRA/Ulster)
Lee Barron(Michaels/Leinster)
James McCormick(Dalradia/Ulster) - u19
Eoin de Buitlear(An Gaelthacht/Connacht)
Ronan Loughnane(Roscrea/Leinster)

Lock
Joe McCarthy(Blackrock/Leinster)
Mark Morrissey(Blackrock/Leinster) - u19
Harry Sheridan(Sullivan/Ulster)
Darragh Murray(Buccaneers/Connacht)
John Forde(PBC/Munster)

Backrow
Alex Soroka(Belvedere/Leinster)
Will Hickey(Michaels/Leinster)
Mark Boyle(Gorey/Leinster)
Hubert Costello(Corinthians/Connacht)
Oisin McCormack(Ballinasloe/Connacht)
Donnacha Byrne(Sligo/Connacht)
Diarmuid McCormack(Clongowes/Connacht)
Alex Kendellen(PBC/Munster)
Daniel Okeke(Ardscoil Ris/Munster)
Jack Kelleher(PBC/Munster)
Nick Greene(Bandon Grammar/Munster) - u19
Conor Moloney(Ennis RFC/Munster) - u19
Rueben Crothers(Wallace/Ulster) - u19

Scrumhalf
Nathan Doak(Wallace/Ulster)*
Conor McKee(Sullivan/Ulster)
Ben Murphy(Pres Bray/Munster)
Will Reilly(Portlaoise/Leinster)
Rob Gilsenan(St. Michaels/Leinster)
Ethan Coughlan(Ennis RFC/Munster) - u19

Outhalf
Tim Corkery(Kilkenny RFC/Leinster)
Charlie Tector(Kilkenny/Leinster) - u19
Cian Whooley(CBC/Munster)
Cathal Forde(Corinthians/Connacht)
James Humphreys(Queens/Ulster)

Outside Backs
Harry O'Riordan(CBC/Munster)
Alan Flannery(Rockwell/Munster)
Aaron Leahy(CBC/Munster)
Ben Moxham(Ballymena/Ulster)*
Conor Rankin(Campbell/Ulster)
Jude Postlethwaite(RBAI/Ulster) - u19
Ben Carson(Wallace/Ulster) - u19
Shane Jennings(Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht)
Hubert Gilvarry(Sligo RFC/Connacht)
Rory McCleane(Oughterard RFC/Connacht)
Harry Colbert(Gonzaga/Leinster)
Marcus Kiely(Newbridge/Leinster)
Karl Martin(Boyne RFC/Leinster) - u19
Jamie Osborne(Naas RFC/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave(Michaels/Leinster)
Matt McGettrick(Terenure/Leinster)
Shane Mallon(Longford RFC-Roscrea/Leinster) - u19
Dan Kelly(Leicester Tigers)

Full academy = bold
senior appearance for a province = *

RuPi

Ben Carson is Under 19.

realhorrorshow

Minor point, Eoin de Buitléar is in the Connacht academy.

alanb92

Doak and Moxham on the bench for Ulster tonight, hopefully both get decent game time.

A high number of last year's 20's have been involved for the provinces this season, which is testament to how strong a group that was. It usually takes until the following season before players are integrated. I have high hopes for this season's group as well - they should be there or thereabouts in Championship contention. It bodes very well for Ireland in the long run, having 3 u20 groups of such high quality in a row. The core of England's 2019 World Cup finalists stemmed from 3-4 years of extremely strong u20 teams in a row.

Side point, but a couple of names that stand out in England's u20 squad are Dan Lancaster (son of Stuart) and Charlie Atkinson, who has been very impressive for Wasps this season. Encouraging from an Irish perspective that Dan Kelly hasn't been included, I read an article (https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/38041/young-guns-leicester-tigers-centre-dan-kelly/) recently where he stated that he intends to stay playing with Ireland - which backs up what Cian Tracey said on Twitter recently.

Do we expect that he will be overlooked though, given he is committed to an English club for the next 2 and a half years, or have there been cases in the past where players have been included in spite of that? Any exile included in recent years had been set to join an Irish province, from what I remember.

bayern

Assuming the 20's squad will be put into a bubble.. can't see them having Kelly flying in and out. A lot of centre options this year too.

alanb92

bayern wrote: »

Assuming the 20's squad will be put into a bubble.. can't see them having Kelly flying in and out. A lot of centre options this year too.

Good point, hadn't considered that.

bayern

Given the covid situation it wouldn't shock me if there was no 20s six nations

alanb92

Ben Moxham is on the bench for Ulster again tomorrow night. He only turned 19 over the summer, so must be very highly thought of to be getting named in the 23 two weeks in a row. Especially considering older prospects such as Hayden Hyde, who looked class for the 20’s last season, are yet to make an appearance.

Anyone know much about Moxham?

Paul Smeenus

alanb92 wrote: »

Ben Moxham is on the bench for Ulster again tomorrow night. He only turned 19 over the summer, so must be very highly thought of to be getting named in the 23 two weeks in a row. Especially considering older prospects such as Hayden Hyde, who looked class for the 20’s last season, are yet to make an appearance.

Anyone know much about Moxham?

Three weeks in a row. His first cap was against Connacht.

bayern

alanb92 wrote: »

Ben Moxham is on the bench for Ulster again tomorrow night. He only turned 19 over the summer, so must be very highly thought of to be getting named in the 23 two weeks in a row. Especially considering older prospects such as Hayden Hyde, who looked class for the 20’s last season, are yet to make an appearance.

Anyone know much about Moxham?

played some on the wing for the 20's last year and looked out of position and raw.. came through Ballymena RFC and Ulster u18 clubs as a centre. Listed at 6'3, 97kg.

similar rise to Angus Kernohan who played senior for Ulster before getting an academy contract etc.

phog

bayern wrote: »

he has never had a leinster contract, so not sure how this "loan" works..

He has been signed by Munster from the Leinster sub academy and is now a Munster player.

I don't know how people classify loan/full signings but when he arrived to Munster it was announced as a loan.

Locke_Lamora

bayern wrote: »

played some on the wing for the 20's last year and looked out of position and raw.. came through Ballymena RFC and Ulster u18 clubs as a centre. Listed at 6'3, 97kg.

similar rise to Angus Kernohan who played senior for Ulster before getting an academy contract etc.

Think mcilroy played before getting an academy place as well.

Using what dan kelly's doing exactly what the irfu held ollie jager out of the squad for a few years back

bayern

Draven Ashy Sealskin wrote: »

Using what dan kelly's doing exactly what the irfu held ollie jager out of the squad for a few years back

how is that?

bayern

bayern wrote: »

how is that?

I'm genuinely asking not pointing fingers at them but didn't jager sign for sarries and the irfu said you can't go to the u20 world cup unless you sign a provincial contract now

The Lost Sheep

Draven Ashy Sealskin wrote: »

I'm genuinely asking not pointing fingers at them but didn't jager sign for sarries and the irfu said you can't go to the u20 world cup unless you sign a provincial contract now

That wasnt Oliver Jager.

That was Tadhg McElroy
Jager left for NZ immediately after finishing school. Didnt play in Ireland after finishing in rock