WORLD RUGBY HAVE today confirmed the cancellation of this summer’s U20 Championship.
The annual ‘World Cup’ was set to take place in areas of northern Italy which have been severely hit by the outbreak of Covid-19.
The move will limit Ireland’s U20 schedule this year to five competitive matches if they can complete the two postponed Six Nations fixtures against Italy and France at some point this year.
The back-log of fixtures will also prove a tricky one to navigate for the Sevens circuit with the May World Series legs in Paris, London (men) and Langford (women) now pushed back to a provisional September date.
There are greater complications for the seven-a-side game as this summer was due to be the sport’s second appearance at the Olympic Games.
Ireland’s men are due to compete for the last available place in Tokyo in June’s repechage tournament. An event, which World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont says could be scrapped with an alternative solution devised.
With the Tokyo Olympics not yet postponed, today’s statement from World Rugby said the qualifying tournament “is under review and World Rugby continues to be in close consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the implications for the qualification process in the event that the Repechage is unable to be hosted due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”
Beaumont added:
“We are in close dialogue with the IOC relating to the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games rugby sevens qualification, specifically options to replace the final Repechage tournament, should that be required.
“We have two women’s and one men’s teams left to qualify and are currently considering all options to ensure a fair and credible conclusion to the qualification process.”
Dan Leavy returning soon will be huge for Leinster and Ireland. The best forward in the country when healthy and a challenger with Underhill and Curry for those 2 lions flanker positions.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: I’m very excited to see him come back too and, sadly, will be hopeful that he is the same player when he gets back.
The Leinster medical team are excellent at managing rehab, very few if any players with recurring injuries, I’m optimistic that he will be.
Will Conners might be focused on as a 6 such is the depth at 7.
@Sean Fahey: Leavy could be a highly effective 6 too. He’s not a renowned jumper in the lineout but he can do everything else, and offers serious balance to any backrow, in similar ways that SOB did in previous years. Touch wood he comes back as the same player, as you said, the Leinster medical team have a good track record. Keen to see where Leavy and Conan will fit from an Irish perspective now Doris and Deegan have got their breakthroughs aswell.
That drop still haunts me. Better team lost that day!
@Jamie Bent: Ulster were immense that day but every now and then you either ride your luck a little bit or run out of it completely. It’s up there with Fofanas bicep alright.
@Jamie Bent: I’d dare say it still haunts stockdale too. He hasn’t been good since.
Two things stand out to me from a Leinster POV re-watching this -
It’s such a shame Adam Byrne has never really kicked on. Immense physical gifts but just seems to be lacking something to really cement his place. Rumours that he’s off at the end of the season too.
Secondly, Ross Byrne really is a big game player. Might not have the athleticism of his bro or even Sexton, but he never lets Leinster down in Europe. He has had by far the better outcome from the Carbery move so far.
It was a great performance for year one, of a 3 year plan. Year 2 and in play off spot in league, and Q final in Europe is nice showing, who knows where it will end, but certainly on target to be in finals and aiming for silverware in year 3.
I hope Dan Leahy will be given time to get to his own high standard, Leinster supporters will give him the space, not sure about the rest of chattering classes though !
@acallkelly: you’re right Leinster supporters are just superior people.. I heard theyre close to a vaccine