Under 19 squad named below. Under 20s been in camp. So may as well start new thread for the year
https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/10/31/ireland-u18-school-and-ireland-u19-squads-announced/
Severe lack of Munster players at U18.
CC Roscrea doing a lot work for the Munster underage system
Predicted Irish u20 side:
1. Alex Usanov
2. Henry Walker
3. Niall Smyth
4. Billy Corrigan
5. Alan Spicer
6. Michael Foy
7. Oisin Minogue
8. Luke Murphy
9. Chris O'Connor
10. Caspar Gabriel
11. Andre Ryan
12. Evan Moynihan
13. Ciaran Mangan
14. Gene O'Leary Kareem
15. Todd Lawlor
16. Mikey Yarr
17. Emmet Calvey
18. Alex Mullan
19. David Walsh
20. Aaron O'Brien
21. Clark Logan
22. Sam Wisneiwski
23. Paidi Farrell
Tomas Farthing has been looking sharp and scoring loads of tries in AIL/JP Flanagan so if he doesn't even make the 23 it must be a strong year at scrumhalf.
Id say 9 is the hardest spot to call, farthing could be in 23 no doubt.
Wasn't there a connacht back row eligible again this year?
Would have thought the rock 10 o'shaughnesy could be involved too
Didnt include any u19s could be a few involved.
Flynn is overage.
Some of us thought Flynn was eligible again as he played for Connacht u19s last year, but he was born in 2004 per the Connacht website.
Is Walsh the St Michael's 2nd row.
Yep.
Front 5 super strong and deep.
Will Bryan Walsh be involved? Corinthians lad out with connacht. Not sure of age but think 20's. (younger brother looks very good, on Irish U18's playing 20's club rugby as a 17 year old)
Sean Walsh is the younger brother who is an elite centre prospect still in school. You'd expect Bryan will be in wider squad but 2nd row very competitive.
Yea, heard younger brother a serious player and only 17
Dont think Minnogue will start at 7, therell be more representation from the u19s in that team as the 19s look like a stronger group.
Which 19s?
Who will start at 7?
Ye looks like a very good athlete, some big lumps at center being produced in recent years with Forde, Gavin, Postelthwaite, Brownlee. Now theres Walsh, Mangan, O'leary and jack Deegan
Think theyll look to play with 2 6's instead of an out and out 7 in minnogue like they have in recent years to handle the bigger packs of France and England. In the pack i reckon Mcguire, Meagher and O'connell will all be involved.
Backrow I'd go with would be more like 8. Murphy 6. Foy/Mcguire/O'connell 7. Meaghar/O'brien
At 20's recently ireland have been playing a 6 or 8 at 7 to add size like they did with Ward/quinn/Edogbo. And then have been playing second rows at 6. But thats what I would go with anyway.
Is Chris O'Connor in the Leinster sub-academy? Rate him highly and he's having a good season but was never involved in representative squads whilst in school so unsure if he is now.
I believe so.
Would you know who the other 9s are?
Tom Brophy still involved?
Andrew Doyle from Old Wesley.
Meagher is a 7. He must be what 6'1 maybe?
Well he mostly plays 8, but offers a decent carrying game which is why I reckon he'll be involved. Coaches might want to give him another year size wise but if theyre ruling him out for size this year then they certainly wont be going with Minnogue either
Just saying that given his lack of size that he position at u20 and pro level will be at 7. I think he will need to wait and develop more physically.
But you are right, if they dont want a pure openside then Minogue wont be there.
I think Minogue might make it. I just remember watching some u18 schools and he had a raw aggression and athleticism that does seem to scale up. It is true though at u20s, we are putting in some big back rows.
Minogue is exactly the kind of guy who i would have tried to move to hooker.
Roscrea are a really interesting school. Recruit in three provinces and seem to be producing more and more players.
They don't really recruit. Plenty just move their for senior cycle only and it's always been the way there. For cost or any other reason or number of reasons parents choose to just send their kids there for 4th-6th or 5th and 6rh years only
Their numbers gone up a lot since change from boarding only after threat of closure and have improved/changed coaching a lot in recent times.
Interesting, thanks. So, essentially its just the schools location and reputation?
Front row options:
Loosehead:
Tighthead:
Hooker:
Lock options:
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