IRELAND U20 HEAD coach Noel McNamara has unveiled a 37-man squad for the defence of the Six Nations, secured by a Grand Slam last season.
McNamara has been able to call on seven veterans of last yearโs Grand Slam campaign, with Ethan McIlroy โ who made his Pro14 debut with Ulster early this month among the many new faces.
The squad is captained by Ulster back row David McCann, one of seven players from the northern province in the group.
Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson will be vice-captain and leads a hefty group of 20 from Leinsterโs impressive production line.
Towering lock Thomas Ahern is among the five Munster representatives along with out-half Jack Crowley of Cork Con.
Fullback Oran McNulty and back row Joshua Dunne head up the quartet and there is one player, Dan Kelly, who has emerged through IQ rugby via Loughborough University.
Ireland begin the 2020 U20 Six Nations at home to Scotland on Friday 31 January in Musgrave Park.
Ireland Under-20 2020 Six Nations Squad:
Forwards (20):
Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC / Clontarf FC / Leinster)
Marcus Hannan (Clane RFC / Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)
Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC / Old Wesley RFC / Leinster)
Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy / Ballynahinch RFC / Ulster)
John McKee (Campbell College / Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Bobby Sheehan (Clongowes Wood College / UCD RFC / Leinster)
Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College / Dublin University FC / Leinster)
Ryan McMahon (Clongowes Wood College / Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)
Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers / Clontarf FC / Leinster)
Eoin OโConnor (Waterpark RFC / Young Munster RFC / Munster)
Thomas Ahern (Waterpark RFC / Shannon RFC / Munster)
Joe McCarthy (Blackrock College / Dublin University FC / Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Blackrock College / Dublin University FC / Leinster)
Cian Prendergast (Newbridge College / UCD RFC / Leinster)
Cian Hurley (CBC Cork / Garryowen FC / Munster)
Sean OโBrien (Blackrock College / UCD RFC / Leinster)
Mark Hernan (St Michaelโs College / Lansdowne FC / Leinster)
Anthony Ryan (Clongowes Wood College / Dublin University FC / Leinster)
David McCann (RBAI / Banbridge RFC / Ulster)
Joshua Dunne (Denstone College / Galwegians RFC / Connacht).
Backs (17):
Lewis Finlay (Down High School / Malone RFC / Ulster)
Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray / Clontarf FC / Leinster)
Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School / Queens RFC / Ulster)
Jack Crowley (Bandon RFC / Cork Constitution FC / Munster)
Cathal Forde (Colรกiste Iognรกid / Corinthians RFC / Connacht)
Tim Corkery (Kilkenny RFC / Lansdowne FC / Leinster)
Andrew Smith (St Michaelโs College / Clontarf FC / Leinster)
Niall Comerford (Blackrock College / UCD RFC / Leinster)
Ethan McIlroy (Methody College / Queens RFC / Ulster)
Diarmuid Kilgallen (Cistercian College Roscrea / Galwegians RFC / Connacht)
Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School / Ballynahinch RFC / Ulster)
Ben Moxham (Ballymena RFC / Ballymena RFC / Ulster)
Harry OโRiordan (CBC Cork / UCC RFC / Munster)
Luis Faria (Newpark Comprehensive / Dublin University FC / Leinster)
Dan Kelly (Kirkham Grammar / Loughborogh University / IQ Rugby)
Oran McNulty (Millfield School / Corinthians RFC / Connacht)
Max OโReilly (St Gerardโs / Dublin University FC / Leinster).
20 leinster
8 ulster
5 munster
4 connacht
The lads must not get petrol money to travel outside dublin to go watch the other 3 provinces,just goes to show where the development of the game going.
@Teadore Hungwell: or Leinster are at a much higher level on developing youth talent.
@Teadore Hungwell: @Teadore Hungwell: you think the best U20โs havenโt been picked ? Is 20/37 that odd given the rugby population of the Leinster province (and the actual population of 2.6m)
@BMJF: agreed, can not be good for the overall game of rugby provincially though ,bit like where Dublin are now last few years with GAA
@BMJF: Ulsterโs population is comparable to Leinsters, Munster has half the population of Leinster. Proportionate to population Munster are maybe 1 or 2 light and Connacht are doing better than would be expected. But Ulster should have more.
@Darren Byrne: but only recently are you getting catholics playing rugby in ulster, so while the population is not far behind, the rugby playing pop is (but that seems to be changing)
@Teadore Hungwell: I donโt understand this mentality. Leinster have an exceptional system, from the age of 8 a sizable portion of the population are playing rugby at a club or in their school. Leinster have invested heavily in schools, developing coaching, refereeing, providing technical expertise, investing in facilities, not least the superb facility at Donnybrook, thereโs also the schools cup, one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, the culture of the cup is to a schools player / supporter what European cup is at provincial level, the standard is better than anywhere in the world outside New Zealand. Then you have an academy system that is modeled on that of Man City including incorporating sports science. Leinster is an anomaly that elevates Irish rugby. Hardly a bad thing.
@Teadore Hungwell: Seems to be a good few non Dublin Leinster players. Also, the coaches are mostly Connacht with Colm Tucker being Limerick. Stranger than the huge Leinster contingent is the zero Limerick players. Either a sign of limited population choosing hurling or poor development of youth in rugby.
Sean,
Any chance the42 would break it down by position?
Thomas Ahearn is Dungarvan not waterpark. Played with dungarvan up until under 18s.
@Ormond: nice to see 2 Waterford lads in the squad. Good for Munster in the long term if the county is involved. Well done to all their former clubs & coaches
@kieran horgan: Been a promising development-growth for Munster in what some might call non-traditional rugby counties such as Waterford and Tipperary recently which is good to see.
Keep an eye out for Andrew Smith, plays 15 or wing, has scored some spectacular tries throughout age grade. Hereโs a sample of his finishing:
https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1170756649855979520?s=21
Soroka is Belvedere not Blackrock
Does anyone why John McKee went from Campbell to Leinster โ just curious..
@nolamentor: Ulster viewed him as a prop but he wanted to play hooker. So he moved to Leinster.
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: I think Stewart is the better prospect anyway
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: That is very telling of where Ulster academy are in terms of developing players.
@nolamentor: Tom Stewart was coming through behind McKee. Stewart is heir apparent. Very grounded fella, should go far with his ability.
Actually 4 lads from the Exiles programme in the squad Josh Dunne (Connacht), Oran McNulty (Connacht), Hayden Hyde (Ulster) & Dan Kelly(Loughborough)
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