Ireland u20s 6 nations and world championship 2026

typhoony · 05-03-2026 05:52PM

Ireland U20s

15. Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
13. Rob Carney (Cashel RFC/Munster)
12. James O’Leary (UCC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster)

1. Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster)(captain)
4. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
5. Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
7. Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
8. Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Replacements:

16. Duinn Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20. Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster)
21. James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
22. Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster

typhoony · 05-03-2026 05:55PM

Andrew Browne sticking with pretty much the same group of players. Will be interested to see how Ben Blaney gets on selected to start as opposed to coming off the bench. Billy Hayes had mixed performances in the opening games

FtD v2 · 05-03-2026 10:17PM

Wonder is Rian Handley injured? He’s been excellent off the bench so far.

Zeugnis · 06-03-2026 09:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124288935#Comment_124288935

And has made a clear difference to the scrummaging.

revth1990 · 06-03-2026 11:43AM

Probably just a rotation, Maguire is also a good scrummager/ball carrier

thebaz · 06-03-2026 01:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124288935#Comment_124288935

Made a huge difference to scrum when he came on, we were going backwards a bit, in both games, odd that he's dropped since he was big part in turning the win, rest of team seams good.

FtD v2 · 06-03-2026 04:05PM

Still no sign of Charlie Molony, Sean Walsh or Jack Deegan to shake off their injuries.

realhorrorshow · 06-03-2026 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290828#Comment_124290828

Walsh is targeting the JRWC, Connacht put up an interview with him on their YouTube channel.

typhoony · 07-03-2026 12:31PM

The 2 Welsh centres are likely to cause us problems this evening

HanShotFirst · 07-03-2026 09:08PM

Josh Neill

A proper flanker

HanShotFirst · 07-03-2026 09:24PM

Barrett looks a promising 9

FtD v2 · 07-03-2026 09:26PM

Some quality tries from this young Irish side, after going 12-0 behind.

There are some quality players here. Chris Barrett should be pushing for some senior minutes with Munster - he’s a super prospect at 9 and I think he’s a far better player than Coughlan or Patterson. As I type this he’s just scored another try.

Tom Wood has a significantly better kicking game from hand than Jack Crowley. This Ireland U20s team are playing a lot of running rugby, but are better than the senior side at kicking well for territory.

Josh Neill, Noah Byrne, Dylan McNeice are three with the highest ceilings IMO but there should be 12-13 players here who become interprovincial regulars in time.

HanShotFirst · 07-03-2026 09:28PM

Wood showing rucking skills of Keith

HanShotFirst · 07-03-2026 09:30PM

Bishti another with a big future

So unusual to see a tight head as captain

Dave_The_Sheep · 07-03-2026 10:04PM

Huge swing there, real 14 pointer.

chupacabra · 07-03-2026 10:08PM

Some very poor calls by the ref for both sides

KaneToad · 07-03-2026 10:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124294718#Comment_124294718

The transfer from u20 to a decent pro career rarely goes as expected. I doubt we'll get 12/13 from this group.

FtD v2 · 07-03-2026 10:13PM

Simple try on there for Derry Moloney if Daniel Ryan throws the pass.

phog · 07-03-2026 10:35PM

Great result for Ireland, Ryan deserved his MotM but he needs to learn to pass, he held onto the ball a few times tonight where the pass would have been the better option

FtD v2 · 07-03-2026 10:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124294839#Comment_124294839

It’s not a wildly ambitious number - we’ve delivered considerably more than that from the U20s squads from 2019-2021 and are on track to exceed that with some of the more recent crops.

The 2019 group had at least 15 guys who I think reached “provincial regular” status (Josh Wycherley, Dylan Tierney Martin, Tom Clarkson, Tom Ahern, Ryan Baird, Brian Deeny, Craig Casey, Harry Byrne, Michael Milne, Ben Healy, Niall Murray, Scott Penny, John Hodnett, David Hawkshaw, Dave McCann) plus others who could still reach that status (John McKee, Callum Reid, Jake Flannery etc).

2020 team had a broadly similar number and was possibly stronger.

My 13 who’ll reach that level from this crop would be:

Lee Fitzpatrick, Sami Bishti, Dylan McNeice, Josh Neill, Joe Finn, Diarmuid O’Connell, Chris Barrett, Tom Wood, James O’Leary, Rob Carney, Daniel Ryan, Noah Byrne - plus Sean Walsh, Jack Deegan and Charlie Molony who are currently injured.

Clegg · 07-03-2026 10:44PM

McNiece is massive for his age. You don't see many Irish u20's with so much size already on their frame. Seems to be a bit of a dose on the pitch which is exactly what you want from a second row. Looking forward to seeing how he develops at Leinster.

Neill wasn't as prominent as in other matches, but thought he was very solid regardless. Took his try well. He's another that will be given every opportunity to develop to senior level.

thebaz · 07-03-2026 10:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124294887#Comment_124294887

agreed

typhoony · 07-03-2026 11:56PM

Should be a good few from this group going on to represent their provinces, i think Lee Fitzpatrick is nailed on to be a star, only just turned 19. Rhian Handley also a good prospect in the no.2 jersey. I was hoping we'd see arthur ashmore involved he should be at the JWC.

realhorrorshow · 09-03-2026 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124294718#Comment_124294718

Is Byrne expected to commit to rugby or is there a threat from GAA/AFL?

FtD v2 · 09-03-2026 10:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297695#Comment_124297695

Don't think he has the size or the aerial ability for AFL, and think rugby is his primary sport right now.

He has some clear weaknesses in his game - he's not a great defender, but he has been excellent in attack. His speed and passing ability at full tilt is superb IMO.

Leinster haven't done a brilliant job in the last couple of seasons at converting guys like him in the back three into the players they could be, but I'd be very surprised if he doesn't have Academy offers.

typhoony · 13-03-2026 04:36PM

No news yet on the team to play scotland on sunday. Scotland have been competitve in most of their games but i think we've improved and it should be a win for us.

SaoPaulo41 · 13-03-2026 08:37PM

Max Doyle

2. Dúinn Maguire

3. Sami Bishti (C)

4. Joe Finn

5. Donnacha McGuire

6. Josh Neill

7. Ben Blaney

8. Diarmaid O’Connell

9. Chris Barrett

10. Tom Wood

11. Daniel Ryan

12. James O’Leary

13. Rob Carney

14. Derry Moloney

15. Noah Byrne

16. Lee Fitzpatrick

17. Christian Foley

18. Luke Murtagh

19. Dylan McNeice

20. Billy Hayes

21. James O’Dwyer

22. Charlie O’Shea

23. Johnny O’Sullivan

Melodeon · 15-03-2026 04:12PM

Is this rendition of Flower of Scotland deliberately intended to make them angry???

Lost Ormond · 15-03-2026 04:23PM

good start. try neill from a move off lineout on 5

Lost Ormond · 15-03-2026 04:31PM

2nd try for us. playing well

Ireland u20s 6 nations and world championship 2026

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Ireland U20s