Throwback Thursday: Ireland’s U-19 World Championship Win In 1998
Footage of the Ireland Under-19s’ World Championship win from 1998 – featuring, amongst others, future Ireland star Brian O’Driscoll on kicking duty – has surfaced on YouTube this week.
The Ireland Under-19s travelled to France under coach Declan Kidney in 1998 for the FIRA World Youths Championship.
In their opening game they beat the USA 47-13 and followed this up with a 17-all draw against South Africa. Ireland lost the subsequent penalty shootout, but the young Springboks were then disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
In the semi-final Ireland beat Argentina 18-3 to take their place in the final, and in the tournament decider they got the better of hosts France on an 18-0 scoreline.
This footage on YouTube features future Ireland international Paddy Wallace at out-half, Brian O’Driscoll on kicking duty and there’s no mistaking Donncha O’Callaghan’s smile!
The Ireland Under-19 Team that day was:
Donovan Rossi (Clontarf)
Matthew Cupitt (Instonians)
Shane Moore (UCD) (capt)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD)
Darragh Holt (UCC)
Paddy Wallace (Campbell College)
Kieran Campbell (London Irish)
Andy O’Brien (UCD)
Adrian Flavin (London Irish)
Frank Roche (Bohemians)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution)
Damien Broughall (UCD)
Chris McCarey (Ballymena)
Aidan Kearney (St. Michael’s College)
Neil Coughlan (UCD)
Replacements: John Reynolds (Watsonians), Aidan Considine (Bective Rangers), David Mescal (Ballina/UCG), Chris Good (RBAI), Ben Urquhart (Methodist College), Chris Schofield (Bangor), Conor Fitzgerald (Garryowen).