O’Connell Joins Ireland Under-20 Coaching Staff
Former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain Paul O’Connell will join up with the Ireland Under-20 squad, sponsored by PwC, this week as an assistant coach.
Paul O’Connell, who retired from playing rugby in February 2016, has been working in an advisory role with the Munster Academy and is also an ambassador for the Aldi Play Rugby programme which introduces non-contact forms of rugby to primary schools.
O’Connell will work with newly-appointed Ireland Under-20 head coach Noel McNamara and assistant coaches Ambrose Conboy and Tom Tierney as they prepare the squad for festive matches against the Leinster and Munster Development teams.
The 2018 Under-20 Six Nations Championship kicks off for McNamara’s Ireland youngsters against France in Brive on Friday, February 2 (kick-off 9pm local time/8pm Irish time).
Tickets for the Ireland Under-20s’ home Six Nations matches against Italy, Wales and Scotland under the floodlights in Donnybrook are on sale now from ticketmaster.ie – click here.
IRELAND UNDER-20 (sponsored by PwC) FIXTURES:
Ireland Under-20s v Leinster Development, Donnybrook, Thursday, December 21, 12pm
Ireland Under-20s v Munster Development, Thomond Park, Friday, December 29, 1pm
France Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Stade Amédée Domenech, Brive, Friday, February 2, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time – click here to buy match tickets
Ireland Under-20s v Italy Under-20s, Donnybrook, Friday, February 9, 7.15pm – click here to buy match tickets
Ireland Under-20s v Wales Under-20s, Donnybrook, Friday, February 23, 7.15pm – click here to buy match tickets
Ireland Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s, Donnybrook, Friday, March 9, 7.15pm – click here to buy match tickets
England Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Friday, March 16, 8pm – click here to buy match tickets