Head Coach Richie Murphy has unveiled the 31-man Ireland U20s squad for the 2024 U20 Six Nations, which features five players from last year's Grand Slam-winning campaign and a second-place finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The squad also contains one Leinster, eight Munster, seven Ulster, and three Connacht players, along with Irish-qualified players Patreece Bell and Will Wootton from Sale Sharks.
Munster's Evan O’Connell will lead the team as captain in the opening fixture against France on February 3 and is joined by familiar faces from the previous year, including Joe Hopes, Brian Gleeson, and Hugh Gavin.
The 2024 Championship kicks off with an away match against France, followed by home games at Musgrave Park against Italy on February 9 and Wales on February 23. The team will also face England in Bath on March 8 and conclude the tournament against Scotland in Cork on March 15.
Head Coach Richie Murphy has named a 31-player Ireland U20s squad for the Six Nations! 🟢#FutureIsGreen
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 16, 2024
On the coaching front, Willie Faloon (defence and lineout) and Aaron Dundon (scrum and contact coach) will continue, with former Ireland international Ian Keatley joining as backs coach.
Speaking about the squad selection, Murphy claimed that he has been impressed by the players desire ahead of the tournament. “We have been working hard for a number of weeks, and it’s an exciting time for these young players, who have the honour of representing the wider group in the Six Nations,” Murphy said.
“We as coaches have pushed the players over the last number of months and I have been impressed by their work rate, commitment and application. Now our focus turns to performance and the opening game against France, which we know will be a big challenge first up.
“We are looking forward to the opportunities over the coming weeks and are excited by the prospect of an Ireland U20s team returning to Six Nations action at Musgrave Park in Cork, where we always have huge support.”
Tickets for home matches at Musgrave Park are available through Ticketmaster.ie.
Ireland U20s Squad:
Forwards (17):
- Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
- Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
- Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
- Henry Walker (Queen’s University RFC/Ulster)
- Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
- Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
- Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University RFC/Ulster)
- Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster)
- Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
- Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
- Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (captain)
- Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster)
- Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
- Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
- Josh Stevens (Queen’s University RFC/Ulster)
- Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster)
- Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Backs (14):
- Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
- Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster)
- Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
- Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
- Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
- Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
- Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
- Ethan Graham (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
- Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
- Rory Ellerby (Queen’s University RFC/Ulster)
- Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster)
- Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
- Stephen Kiely (Shannon RFC/Munster)
- Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
Ireland U20 Fixtures:
- Saturday, 3 February: France vs. Ireland, Stade Maurice David, 9.10 p.m. local time/8.10 p.m. Irish time
- Friday, February 9: Ireland vs. Italy, Musgrave Park, 7.15 p.m.
- Friday, 23: Ireland vs. Wales, Musgrave Park, 7.15 p.m.
- Friday, March 8: England vs. Ireland, Recreation Ground, 7.15 p.m.
- Friday, March 15: Ireland vs. Scotland, Musgrave Park, 7 p.m.
