Ireland Head Coach Richie Murphy has announced the Ireland U20s squad for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The championship will span five match days, starting on June 24 and concluding on July 14.
Murphy has selected a large core of players that were part of the Grand Slam-winning campaign. Twenty-six of the 30 players who played in Ireland's successful Slam have been selected to travel to South Africa.
Forwards Ronan Foxe, Max Clein, and Dan Barron, along with scrum-half Jack Oliver, are the four uncapped players included on the tour. Gus McCarthy will remain as captain.
Ireland has been placed in Pool B for the tournament and will compete against England, Australia, and Fiji. All three of Ireland's pool matches will take place at Paarl Gymnasium in the Western Cape.
The Ireland squad for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa! 🟢#FutureIsGreen | @PwCIreland
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 14, 2023
Ireland's campaign begins with a match against their Six Nations rivals, England, on Saturday, June 24 (1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time). They will then face Australia on Match Day 2, scheduled for Thursday, June 29 (11am local time/10am Irish time). The final pool match will be against Fiji on Match Day 3, set to take place on Tuesday, July 4 (1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time).
Coach Murphy said, "It is an exciting time for the squad as we prepare to depart for South Africa for the World Rugby U20 Championship. It has been four years since the last edition of the tournament, and we're looking forward to getting to Cape Town to test ourselves against the world's best teams.
"It has been a competitive couple of weeks as the squad has 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."
Feargal O'Rourke, PwC Ireland Managing Partner, added, "Developing young talent is a strategic imperative for PwC. We are determined to nurture the aspirations of future leaders, in business and in sport.
"The dedication and teamwork that the U20s show is always exceptional and mirrors our own values at PwC. We wish them the best of luck for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa, and we have no doubt they can continue the success from the Six Nations!"
Ireland U20s Squad:
Forwards (17):
George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)
George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Max Clein (Garryowen/Munster)*
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)
Dan Barron (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Backs (13):
Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)
Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)*
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Dublin University/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Andrew Osborne (Naas/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)
*Uncapped at U20s level
Ireland U20s Fixtures:
- Saturday 24th June: Ireland U20s v England U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
- Thursday 29th June: Ireland U20s v Australia U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 11am local time/10am Irish time
- Tuesday 4th July: Ireland U20s v Fiji U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
- Sunday 9th July: Play-off match
- Friday 14th July: Play-off match.
