Ireland Under-20 Squad Named For World Rugby U-20 Championship In France

Head coach Noel McNamara has named the Ireland Under-20 squad, sponsored by PwC, to play in the upcoming World Rugby U-20 Championship in France.

The tournament takes place between May 30 and June 17, with the Ireland Under-20s playing their pool games in Perpignan and Narbonne, while the finals will take place at Stade de la Mediterranee in Béziers.
 
Ireland share Pool C with Six Nations rivals France, Georgia and South Africa and will face the hosts on the opening day of the tournament in Perpignan. Ireland’s 28-man squad will be captained by St. Mary’s College and Leinster back rower Caelan Doris.
 
Doris and fellow forwards Diarmuid Barron and Jordan Duggan, together with backs Conor Dean, Jonny Stewart and Michael Silvester, are all set to feature at their second World Rugby U-20 Championship, having been involved in Georgia last summer.

Prop Joe Byrne and hooker Dan Sheehan, who helped Dublin University U-20s win the Fraser McMullen Cup recently, wingers Dan Hurley and Tom Roche (brother of Ireland Sevens star Mark Roche), and centre Peter Sylvester, who was part of the UCC side which claimed an historic promotion to Division 1A, are all in line for their first U-20 caps in France.
 
On confirmation of the squad, Ireland U-20 head coach Noel McNamara said: “It’s an exciting time for the players and management as we prepare to head to the south of France for the Under-20 World Championship. There’s a lot of talent in this squad and the players are all preparing well.

“We’re up against three physical sides in our pool, and with France up first, it will be a great test for the players on the opening day of the tournament and something that everyone is looking forward to.”

 
Feargal O’Rourke, PwC Managing Partner, added: “As a sponsor of Irish Rugby for 12 years, we’re delighted to support the Under-20 team in this year’s World Rugby U-20 Championship in France. France, South Africa and Georgia is a tough group but the free-scoring rugby we have seen this team play in recent months gives confidence that we can build on the performances shown during the Six Nations and deliver a strong showing in the tournament
 
“Working together and re-imagining the possible are two core values in PwC but the essence of these are also shared values with the IRFU. It is this great talent and teamwork, striving to ‘be the best you can be’, that makes for a winning team in business and in sport.

“This team are super ambassadors for Ireland, for Irish Rugby, and for PwC, and we wish them the best of luck in the upcoming games. The future is green.”

Ireland’s Pool C matches will be shown live on eir Sport 2. The tournament will also be broadcast on ITV and streamed live via the World Rugby website.

IRELAND UNDER-20 Squad (2018 World Rugby Under-20 Championship, Perpignan, Narbonne & Béziers, France, May 30-June 17):

Backs (12) –

Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Dan Hurley (Young Munster/Munster) *
James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf/Leinster)
Tom Roche (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster)
Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Peter Sylvester (UCC/Munster) *
Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
James McCarthy (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Forwards (16) –

Matthew Agnew (Ballymena/Ulster)
Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster)
Joe Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster) *
Matthew Dalton (Malone/Ulster)
Cormac Daly (Clontarf/Leinster)
Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt)
Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster)
Jack Dunne (Dublin University/Leinster)
Joe Dunleavy (Malone/Ulster)
James French (UCC/Munster)
Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Tom O’Toole (Banbridge/Ulster)
Jack O’Sullivan (UCC/Munster)
Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster)
Dan Sheehan (Dublin University/Leinster) *
 
* Denotes uncapped player at this level
 
Unavailable due to injury:

Eoghan Clarke, Angus Curtis, Ronan Kelleher, Sean Masterson, Peter Sullivan

IRELAND U-20s’ World Rugby Championship Fixtures:

Pool C –

France v Ireland (live eir Sport 2)
Stade Aimé-Giral, Perpignan, Wednesday, May 30, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time
 
South Africa v Ireland (live eir Sport 2)
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne, Sunday, June 3, 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
 
Ireland v Georgia (live eir Sport 2)
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne, Thursday, June 7, 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time

Semi-Finals –
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne or Stade Aimé-Giral, Perpignan, Tuesday, June 12
 
Finals –
Stade de la Mediterranee, Béziers, Sunday, June 17