Ireland Under-20 2024 Team

pickarooney

Venues announced for the 6N. Will be going to the French game. Who do people reckon are the top 3 to watch this year (excluding lads returning from last year)?

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431550#Comment_121431550

On the Irish side you mean?

Outside of the guys returning from last year, I would think guys who have high-ceiling pro potential would be Lukas Kenny (Ulster - winger), Hugo McLaughlin (Leinster - back three) and Stephen Smyth (Leinster - hooker).

geoff2204

think stephen smyth is the real deal- have seen him play and he looks brilliant.

typhoony

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431099#Comment_121431099

It was what I was told at the time from a reliable source involved with the team

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121432936#Comment_121432936

Well, no disrespect intended to your anonymous source, but it's bullshit tbh.

He hurt his neck in a game against Ulster in Dec 2006. Up to that point he'd been involved in the match squads for the Leinster senior team for 9/9 games, starting 8 of those.

He then missed three games in Dec 06/Jan 07, reappeared for Leinster against Llanelli at the end of Jan and was taken off, injured after 55 mins. While he was named in the Irish U20 side for the first game of the U20 6N a week or so later, he was withdrawn the week of the game with injury. He went on to miss the next two Leinster games with injury too, and didn't return for Leinster till early April.

These silly rumours that go around from anonymous, but always "reliable", sources are far too frequent here.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431799#Comment_121431799

I’d say Ben O Connor in terms of potential. He might be the best pure athlete in any academy right now. He was a high high end hurling prospect as well.

I honestly don’t know if he will even be in the squad but i really want to see longstaff play as well.

What the hell are Leinster going to do with all these hookers? I heard there’s a guy coming next year (ironically called tom stewart) who is an absolute beast.

To name a third guy, the ulster loosehead boyd.

conquestscarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121434408#Comment_121434408

Stewart was a big boy at school and looked very physically developed for his age, I'd wonder if that caps him at higher levels as he doesn't have that much room to physically grow. I'm not sure he has that much height on his side either. Was more his size then rugby ability that caught my eye aswell.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121434683#Comment_121434683

I honestly have just heard his name but was told he was a big prospect.

conquestscarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431550#Comment_121431550

From a Leinster POV, Sparrow, Deay, McLaughlin. McLaughlin probably because he was the best schools player over the last 2 years IMO. Deay and Sparrow as they're both shooting for a tighthead prop academy place at Leinster and it looks neck and neck between them. Spicer probably one to watch based on pure size, needs more work as a player but just has so many advantages over other players from his physique means he could develop into a special player.

FrannoFan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121434408#Comment_121434408

What school/club is tom stewart?

McLoughlin been playing 13 for lansdowne. Played 15 in schools

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121437979#Comment_121437979

He came through Michaels, and is playing with Terenure (Skehan seems to have brought a number of ex-Michaels guys over there, when previously there would have been virtually no link to speak of).

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121437979#Comment_121437979

Has he? I've only seen him named at wing or full back this year for Lansdowne in AIL. Played full back in the one game I was at too.

conquestscarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121438008#Comment_121438008

I don't think he has from the teamsheets I've seen.

RAKM

I think Skehans brother has joined the coaching team and he is involved with Michaels SCT.

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121438568#Comment_121438568

For Terenure (club) you mean?

Yeah, Andy Skehan is the Head Coach of the Michael's SCT and Sean Skehan is Head Coach at Terenure RFC 1st XV.

Chico Flores

McLoughlin has only played wing or full back, I think 2 games at 15 for Lansdowne

They have Rory Parata and Andy Marks in the centre for every game I am fairly sure.

RAKM

Yes I believe Andy is helping at Nure.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

18 year old lock Alan Spicer starting for UCD this weekend.

pickarooney

Probably a stupid question but do you have to be a student at UCD to play for the rugby team?

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121441266#Comment_121441266

The lad certainly has potential. He's got to be the biggest player I've seen from Ireland. I'm praying they can develop him like they developed Toner.

FrannoFan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121438004#Comment_121438004

Last year SCT hooker? He looked a beast alright. The skeehan connection working well for Terenure with gunne, mcirlan there too.

McLaughlin to 13 was second hand information, thought he had only been fullback myself. Person telling me could have been mistaken

ljsulster

U20 eligible Mark Lee and Zac Solomon both named in combined academy squad for Italy tour. Joe Hopes aswell

typhoony

Alan Spicer in the u19's squad for the Christmas training period, the u'20 squad will be announced mid-january I hope he makes it.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

interesting to see some of the high profile under-19s that are out of school are included in 19s squad:

Calvey, Stewart, Yarr, Spicer, McCarthy, Murphy, Farthing, Hicks.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121485756#Comment_121485756

One of those is destined to end up at Cornish Pirates

Lord Palmerston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121485809#Comment_121485809

😂😂

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121483101#Comment_121483101

That he isn't in 20s for now is possibly a good thing. A lot of talk/pressure on him with his size etc. He could be added/named to 20s next month may not but no harm if he isnt

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

barring injury he will be in there.

interesting that Alex Usanov not in irish 19s squad, was there in october.. Probably a certainty for 20s squad.

Lord Palmerston

U19 Side:

Props:

Billy Bohan (Newbridge College / Leinster), Emmett Calvey (Shannon RFC / Munster), Tom McAllister (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster), Niall Smyth (Blackrock College / Leinster), Darragh O'Connell (Muskerry RFC / Munster)

Hooker:

Henry Walker (QUB / Ulster), Tom Stewart (Terenure College RFC / Leinster), Mikey Yarr (Lansdowne RFC / Leinster)

Second Rows:

Alan Spicer (UCD / Leinster), David Walsh (St Michael's College / Leinster), Mahon Ronan (Boyne RFC / Leinster), Frazer McKenna (St Michael's College / Leinster)

Backrow:

Charlie Coghlan (Clontarf RFC / Leinster), Aaron O'Brien (St Mary's College / Leinster), Eanna McCarthy (UCC / Munster), Jamie Jackson (Portadown College / Ulster), Ruairi Munnelly (Newbridge College /Leinster), Ryan Connolly (Down HS / Ulster), Oisin Minogue (St Munchins / Munster), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC / Munster)

Scrum Half:

Clark Logan (Coleraine GS / Ulster), Tom Farthing (Corinthians RFC / Connacht)

Out Half:

Sam Wisniewski (Clontarf RFC / Leinster), Dylan Hicks (Garryowen RFC / Munster)

Outside Backs:

Andre Ryan (Belvedere College / Leinster), Cian Brady (Galwegians RFC / Connacht), Ciaran Mangan (Newbridge College RFC / Leinster), Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC / Munster), Evan Moynihan (St Mary's College / Leinster), Gene O'Leary Kareem (PBC / Munster), Jed O'Dwyer (Old Crescent / Munster), Johnny Scott (Banbridge RFC / Ulster), Paddy Taylor (Newbridge College / Leinster), Todd Lawlor (Newbridge College / Leinster), Zack Hopkins (St Mary's College / Leinster), Matt Te Pou (St Munchins / Munster), Will Wooton (Sale Sharks / IQ Rugby)

Breakdown:

Leinster: 17

Munster: 10

Ulster: 6

Connacht: 3

IQ Rugby: 1

Lord Palmerston

U18 Schools team and U19 training sides named over the weekend:

U18 Schools:

Props:

Blake McClean (RBAI / Ulster), Evann Shelley (Skerries RFC / Leinster), Rio McDonnagh (Wallace HS / Ulster), Max Doyle (Clongowes / Leinster), Jamie Conway (Castletroy / Munster), Tyrese Abolarin (Methody College / Ulster).

Hooker:

Rian Handley (Wesley College/ Leinster), Jonathan Byrne (Crescent College / Munster), Lee Fitzpatrick (Newbridge / Leinster), Luke McLoughlin (Gonzaga / Leinster), Conor Magee (Banbridge / Ulster)

Second Row:

Donnacha McGuire (Blackrock College / Leinster), Dylan McNeice (St Michael's College / Leinster), Fionn O'Meara (Nenagh Ormond RFC / Munster), Joe Finn (Cistercian College, Roscrea / Munster), Charlie Fenton (Crescent College / Munster), Diarmuid O'Connell (Carrick On Shannon RFC / Sligo Grammar / Connacht)

Back Row:

Bill Hayes (Cistercian College, Roscrea / Munster), Charlie Meagher (CBC Monkstown / Leinster), Joe Elliott (St Michael's College / Leinster), Callum McKinney (Campbell COllege / Ulster), Matthew Heasley (Dromore HS / Ulster), Thomas Dougan (Royal School Armagh / Ulster), Rory Lyons (Westport RFC / Connacht)

Scrum Half:

Elliott Mallon (Terenure College / Leinster), Chris Barrett (CBC / Munster)

Out Half:

Conor O'Shaughnessy (Blackrock College / Leinster), Tom Wood (St Munchin's College / Munster), Charlie O'Shea (CBC / Munster)

Outside Backs:

Cal Traynor Russell (CBC Monkstown / Leinster), Fraser Cunningham (RBAI / Ulster), Jack Deegan (Cistercian College, Roscrea / Leinster), James O'Leary (PBC / Munster), Ethan Black (St Michael's College / Leinster), Charlie Molony (Blackrock College / Leinster), Johnny O'Sullivan (Blackrock College / Leinster), Noah Byrne (Gonzaga College / Leinster), Paddy Curry (Terenure College / Leinster), Josh Gibson (RBAI / Ulster), Sean Walsh (Corinthians RFC / Connacht), Stephen O'Donovan (Bantry RFC / Munster)

Breakdown:

Leinster: 18

Munster: 11

Ulster: 9

Connacht: 3