Ireland have named their 30-man squad for the forthcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.
Head Coach Willie Faloon has named Munster’s Evan O’Connell as captain, and he is one of five players in the squad that featured in Ireland’s run to the 2023 final, also held in South Africa, where they lost out to France.
O’Connell’s Munster teammates Danny Sheahan and Brian Gleeson, along with Connacht’s Hugh Gavin and Leinster’s Sam Berman are the other four survivors from that group and will likely provide plenty of leadership as Ireland’s prepare for group games against Australia, Italy, and Georgia in Pool B.
There are four uncapped players in the squad, which compromises 17 forwards and 13 backs, Leinster’s Ruben Moloney and Mikey Yarr, Munster’s Jake O’Riordan, and Connacht’s Max Flynn. The squad is, perhaps unsurprisingly, dominated by Leinster, who have 14 players selected, almost half the squad. Munster have 8 players in the squad, with Connacht represented by four players, and Ulster by three. Meanwhile the exiles programme, IQ Rugby, also sees representation in the squad through Sale Sharks’ Patreece Bell.
Speaking ahead of the squad’s departure for South Africa, Willie Faloon said: “It is an exciting time for the squad as we prepare to depart for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.”
“It has been a competitive couple of weeks as the squad have pushed each other in preparation for the tournament, and we know we’ll need to grow and evolve as a team from the Six Nations for what will be a challenging couple of weeks against quality opposition in South Africa.”
Ireland’s World Rugby U20 Championship Squad:
Forwards:
Alex Usanov (Leinster)
Stephen Smyth (Leinster)
Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks)
Alan Spicer (Leinster)
Evan O’Connell (Munster, captain)
James McKillop (Ulster)
Max Flynn (Connacht)
Brian Gleeson (Munster)
Emmet Calvey (Munster)
Danny Sheahan (Munster)
Jacob Boyd (Ulster)
Billy Corrigan (Leinster)
Sean Edogbo (Munster)
Bryn Ward (Ulster)
Luke Murphy (Munster)
Mikey Yarr (Leinster)
Andrew Sparrow (Leinster)
Backs:
Oliver Coffey (Leinster)
Jack Murphy (Leinster)
Hugo McLaughlin (Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Connacht)
Wilhelm de Klerk (Leinster)
Finn Treacy (Connacht)
Ben O’Connor (Munster)
Tadhg Brophy (Leinster)
Sean Naughton (Connacht)
Sam Berman (Leinster)
Davy Colbert (Leinster)
Ruben Moloney (Leinster)
Jake O’Riordan (Munster)
Ireland’s World Rugby U20 Championship Fixtures:
Saturday 29th June: Ireland v Italy, 3.30pm BST
Thursday 4th July: Ireland v Georgia, 1pm BST
Tuesday 9th July: Ireland v Australia, 1pm BST
Sunday 14th July: Semi Finals Round
Friday 19th July: Finals Round
