The Ireland Under-20s will begin their World Rugby Under-20 Championship campaign against Argentina in Parma next June, following confirmation of the match schedule and kick-off times for the 2015 tournament.
The 2015 tournament will run from June 2 to 20 in northern Italy. Four venues will host games next summer – Parma, Calvisano, Viadana and Cremona (the final will be held here on Saturday, June 20).
The Ireland Under-20s, who are coached this season by Connacht’s Nigel Carolan, have been drawn in Pool C alongside New Zealand, Argentina and regular Six Nations rivals Scotland.
A number of players will be returning from last year’s Irish squad with experience of facing both New Zealand and Scotland.
Ireland’s class of 2014 beat Scotland twice – 34-7 in the Six Nations and 30-17 in a training game in May – and their World Championship odyssey in the summer finished with a 45-23 3rd-4th place play-off defeat to hosts New Zealand.
Fourth was the highest Ireland have ever finished in the Under-20 tournament which is now known as the World Rugby Under-20 Championship. It was the IRB Junior World Championship for the past seven years.
Carolan’s charges will kick off the pool stages against Argentina in Parma on Tuesday, June 2, with their clash with Scotland scheduled for Saturday, June 6 in Calvisano.
The following Wednesday (June 10) will see Ireland battle it out with New Zealand in Viadana, and the knockout rounds will follow on Monday, June 15 and Saturday, June 20.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “It’s great to be bringing the World Rugby Under-20 Championship back to Italy after they hosted such a successful tournament in 2011.
“The fixture list has some great matches that will showcase the future stars of world rugby during a very important year for the game.
“More than 300 players have made the step up from the Under-20 Championship to the international Test arena since 2008 and I have no doubt there will be further players graduating up the ranks after this tournament.”
The list of Ireland players graduating from the Under-20 Championship to Test rugby is continuing to grow, with former U-20 internationals Dave Foley and Dominic Ryan earning their first senior caps against Georgia recently.
2015 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP:
POOL A – England, France, Wales, Japan
POOL B – South Africa, Australia, Samoa, Italy
POOL C – New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina, Scotland
IRELAND FIXTURES –
Ireland Under-20s v Argentina Under-20s, Parma, Tuesday, June 2, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
Ireland Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s, Calvisano, Saturday, June 6, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
New Zealand Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Viadana, Wednesday, June 10, kick-off 8.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time
Match Day 4: Play-offs and semi-finals, Monday, June 15
Match Day 5: Play-offs and final, Saturday, June 20
Click here for the full 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship schedule.
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