Latest news with #Irish-qualified
Irish Independent
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Munster academy flanker Michael Foy returns to boost Ireland U-20s for Scottish showdown in bid to avoid wooden spoon
Foy, who started with Carrigaline RFC before moving to Cork Con and then UCC when he went to study there, was one of Ireland's best performers during a testing Six Nations earlier this year but missed the group games in Italy through injury. The return of the Munster academy player is a timely boost as Ireland bid to repeat their Six Nations win over Scotland — their only victory which saw them finish bottom of that tournament — and avoid the wooden spoon. Victory over Scotland in Verona on Monday (5,0pm Irish time) will set them up for a clash with either Georgia or Spain for ninth place, but defeat will see them face one of those two to avoid finishing bottom. Doak has made seven changes with the the inclusion of Foy in a revamped back row where Bobby Power starts in place of his Galwegians and Connacht colleague Eanna McCarthy, the Irish skipper, with Oisin Minogue, who has scored in each of the last two games against Italy and New Zealand, switching to No 8. Henry Walker, who played with Hartpury College and Saracens' U-18s before the Irish-qualified hooker joined the Ulster academy, skippers the side. Páidí Farrell, scorer of two tries in the opening round win over Georgia, is recalled on the right wing, while another significant change sees Sam Wisniewski get the nod over Tom Wood at out-half, while Clark Logan takes over from Will Wootton at No 9. It has been a torrid World Championship as well for Scotland who lost 56-19 to England, 34-24 to Australia and 73-14 to South Africa in the group stages. Meanwhile, Irish prop Billy Bohan, red-carded for a dangerous tackle shortly after scoring against New Zealand, won't feature again in the tournament as he has been banned for three matches. The ban will be reduced to two games if he successfully completes the Coaching Intervention Programme. Ireland: D Green; P Farrell; C Mangan, E Smyth, G O'Leary Kareem; S Wisniewski, C Logan; A Usanov, H Walker (c), A Mullan; M Ronan, C Kennelly; M Foy, B Power, O Minogue. Replacements: L McLaughlin, P Moore, T McAllister, B Corrigan, E McCarthy, W Wootton, J Scott, C Molony. Scotland: J Brown; N Moncrieff, J Ventisei, K Yule, F Watson; M Urwin, H Patterson; O McKenna, S Stephen, O Blyth-Lafferty; D Cockburn, B Godsell; O Duncan, F Douglas, R Logan. Replacements: J Roberts, B White, J Shearer, C Moss, M Fyffe, N Cowan, J Hocking, J Findlay.
Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Irish U-20s must produce something special to down Junior All Blacks and reach last four of World Championships
An 18-16 loss to hosts Italy after they defeated Georgia 35-28 in the opening game means nothing less than a win will do for Ireland, and even then they may need a bonus point to oust a Junior All Blacks side who are three match points ahead of them going into this final pool game. Ireland finished seventh and eighth on the two previous occasions that this 12-team tournament was held in northern Italy and another mid-table position looks on the cards unless they can beat a strong New Zealand side. McCarthy said they were disappointed not to beat the Italians but they have had to shrug off the loss and focus all their attention on a New Zealand side who beat Italy 14-5 and Georgia 38-19. 'We'll have to face up against them and take it to them,' said the Cork native who is in the Connacht academy. 'We didn't get to play the rugby we wanted to against Italy but the effort couldn't be faulted.' New Zealand ended Ireland's hopes in the final pool game the last time Italy hosted the tournament in 2015, with Nigel Carolan's side defeating Scotland to finish seventh with a squad that included Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose, Joey Carbery and Jacob Stockdale. There were also two current Lions in the squad which finished eighth when Italy staged the tournament for the first time in 2011 with Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham on board alongside Iain Henderson, Andrew Conway, Paddy Jackson, Craig Gilroy, Kieran Marmion, Jordi Murphy and JJ Hanrahan. Current head coach Neil Doak, whose side finished bottom of the Six Nations this year, has made four changes for this clash, two at the back and two up front. Ulster academy player Daniel Green, now with Queen's University having been identified through the IQ (Irish-qualified) programme when he was with Sale Sharks, comes in at full-back with Charlie Molony moving to the wing to the exclusion of Paidi Farrell, who scored two tries against Georgia. Jonny Scott, another Ulster academy player, replaces Cork Con's Midleton native Eoghan Smyth. Two recent additions to the Munster academy come in up front with lock Conor Kennelly from Highfield RFC replacing Mahon Ronan, while Shannon's Oisin Minogue, who came through the ranks at Ballina Killaloe RFC, takes over from Billy Power after coming on and scoring the late try against Italy. The flanker is a son of former Irish international Rosie Foley and nephew of the late Anthony Foley. Verdict: New Zealand U-20 Ireland: D Green; C Molony, C Mangan, J Scott, D Moloney; T Wood, W Wootton; A Usanov, H Walker, A Mullan; C Kennelly, B Corrigan; E McCarthy, O Minogue, L Murphy. Reps: L McLaughlin, B Bohan, T McAllister, D Walsh, B Power, C Logan, S Wisniewski, G O'Leary Kareem. New Zealand: R Simpson; F Vaenuku, C Roberts, J Wiseman, M Kunawave; W Cole, D Pledger; S Uamaki Pole, M Letiu, R Faleafa; X Treacy, J Sa; F McLeod, C Woodley, M Bason. Reps: S Kempton, I Time, D Johnston, A Vakasiuola, M Fale, J Tamati, J Cameron, S Solomon.
The 42
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Wrecking ball Angus Bell a major ball-carrying boost for Ulster
THE DOOM AND gloom Ulster fans have been feeling in recent weeks lifted today. It's not that all their worries have suddenly been calmed, but this is an exciting day for the province's supporters. Angus Bell is a world-class player, one of the best loosehead props in the game. Next season, he will be playing for Ulster. It's a major coup for the Irish province, all the more so given that Bell attracted strong interest from other clubs in Europe. The explosive 24-year-old would make most teams better. He is set to arrive at Ulster following the 2025 November Tests when Joe Schmidt's Wallabies will face England, Italy, Ireland, and France. Bell's contract with the province is due to run until the end of the 2025/26 season. Ulster had looked set to head into next season with Eric O'Sullivan, Callum Reid, and Sam Crean as their senior looseheads. O'Sullivan has been capped by Ireland, Reid has played for Emerging Ireland, and the Irish-qualified Crean has arrived from Saracens. Now, Ulster have a marquee player to head up the depth chart. Bell made his Australia debut a month after turning 20. He is still a young player, but he is Australia's first-choice loosehead and already has 36 Test caps. The only men in Ulster's squad with more international experience are 33-year-old captain Iain Henderson, 35-year-old hooker Rob Herring, and 29-year-old wing Jacob Stockdale. Bell has put that body of work with the Wallabies together despite injury troubles in the last three years. The Waratahs prop was sidelined for chunks of the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons due to a recurring toe issue. The second time it struck in 2023, Bell had a bone removed from his foot, but even that didn't resolve the issue. At one stage last year, Bell thought he would have to retire. Ex-Wallaby Stephen Hoiles suggested that if Bell did get fit again, he should move to the back row – where he had played in his school days – to avoid the pressure scrummaging puts on feet. However, cutting-edge surgery to essentially remodel Bell's foot was successful and the dynamic prop finally appears to have put those woes behind him. Bell has had serious travails with injury. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Bell has been fully fit and firing this year in Super Rugby and though the Waratahs have struggled in Super Rugby, the prop is set to be a key figure for the Wallabies this summer against the Lions. Advertisement He wasn't at his best on last autumn's tour of the Northern Hemisphere, looking fatigued and missing out on the final game against Ireland. But Bell's best is very, very good. He is a wrecking ball of a carrier. At around 6ft 3ins and 125kg, he is a big man but he moves well. His acceleration is a big point of difference. He brings blunt power into contact when there's traffic in front of him, but he has the agility to beat defenders with flashes of footwork. Bell has a dynamic fend and he's skillful with ball in hand. He has even shown off his grubber-kicking ability while playing for the Barbarians. Every prop needs to nail their scrummaging and Bell is seen as a solid operator in that area. He has had some tough outings for the Wallabies but that's the reality of Test rugby. Bell, the son of once-capped Wallabies hooker Mark, generally uses his power well in the set-piece. Working with former international Dan Palmer at the Waratahs this season has surely been helpful, while Schmidt brought legendary Kiwi scrum guru Mike Cron into the Wallabies set-up last year. Given Bell's history with foot injuries, the sheer technical expertise of Cron must be invaluable. Defensively, the Aussie loosehead brings power in the tackle and can jackal at the breakdown too. But it is Bell's ball-carrying prowess that is most exciting for Ulster, especially given that Northampton number eight Juarno Augustus is coming in to provide more of it. Augustus has been an explosive carrier for Northampton for the last four seasons since joining from the Stormers in his native South Africa. The 27-year-old's progress was recognised by his inclusion in the latest Springboks alignment camp, highlighting that he is in Rassie Erasmus' wider plans as the 2027 World Cup comes into view. Augustus, who signed a three-year deal with the province, will join a promising crop of Ulster back rows that also includes key man Nick Timoney. The likes of David McCann, James McNabney, Lorcan McLoughlin, and academy flanker Bryn Ward will hope to continue making progress next season. Juarno Augustus is another powerful ball-carrier. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO There is no getting away from the fact that Ulster have had a miserable 2024/25 campaign. Finishing 14th in the URC and winning one game in the Champions Cup is not the standard the province aspires to. Richie Murphy's men will be playing in the Challenge Cup next season and perhaps that will provide a chance for this young squad to improve without as much intense pressure. Still, they want to be in the Champions Cup again as soon as possible. Finding the resources to bring in Bell was important, but the long-term project in Ulster revolves around developing a crop of homegrown players they believe have the potential to be like Trimble, Bowe, Best, Cave, and Ferris before them. It looks like head coach Murphy will continue to back his 20-year-old son Jack to steer the ship at out-half. This time last year, Ulster were announcing the signing of Irish-qualified New Zealand native Aidan Morgan on a two-year deal in the hope that he was the answer at number 10 after they allowed Billy Burns to move on. There were flashes of individual attacking brilliance from Morgan early in his time with Ulster, but he's still only 23 and never looked comfortable or confident in leading the team. The former Hurricanes man has now left Ulster by mutual consent. That leaves Murphy – who only joined the Ulster academy this season – as the main man at out-half, with Jake Flannery and James Humphreys also on the books. 25-year-old Flannery has only played four times this season due to injury, while 24-year-old Humphreys, the son of IRFU performance director David, has made his first five senior appearances off the bench. Aidan Morgan is leaving Ulster this summer. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO There may be wiggle room for Ulster to add a more experienced out-half if someone becomes available, although it's obviously late in the day now. Murphy, who was playing for the Ireland U20s last year, has done well in his first season. He broke into the team back in December and has since established himself as the first-choice, impressing with his kicking, passing, and decision-making. Like most young out-halves, the physical challenge of stepping up from U20s level is notable but Ulster have great faith in Murphy. The backline options outside Murphy remain extremely talented and very dangerous. That hasn't been an issue for Ulster in recent years. Stockdale is playing excellent rugby, Mike Lowry can be lethal, pace man Rob Baloucoune just needs better injury luck, Zac Ward is a growing force, and Werner Kok is a physical weapon. Centres Stuart McCloskey, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, and Ben Carson also have lots of quality. It should help all of those backs that Bell and Augustus will be winning collisions next season.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Sheffield United ease past Bristol City and into Championship play-off final by record margin
(aggregate 6-0) Sheffield United are one win away from ending their play-off hoodoo after booking their place in the Sky Bet Championship final with a record-breaking semi-final demolition of Bristol City. The Blades will meet Sunderland or Coventry at Wembley after a 6-0 aggregate victory over the Robins – the biggest winning margin in Championship play-off semi-final history. After doing the heavy lifting in Thursday's first leg at Ashton Gate, where they won 3-0, they finished the job on home soil thanks to goals from Kieffer Moore, Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare. They will be hoping it is 10th time lucky, having lost in their previous nine play-off encounters, which has included three Championship finals. None of those have been under boss Chris Wilder, though, and he is eyeing a third promotion with his boyhood club. For long parts of the season it looked like the Blades would go up automatically until Leeds and Burnley ran away with it, but they regrouped well in time for the play-off semi-finals and can now turn their attention to Wembley in 12 days time. This was a bridge too far for Bristol City and they were unable to repair the damage from Thursday's first leg against a team they finished 22 points behind in the league. The Robins had no option other than to go for it in the early stages as they tried to make inroads to their first-leg deficit. George Earthy flashed an effort just wide in just the second minute before Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight tested goalkeeper Michael Cooper with a low effort from distance. But the Blades held firm and as the first half wore on they began to take control. In the 34th minute Andre Brooks could not connect with Hamer's cross while Harrison Burrows saw a deflected effort fizz just wide. And a promising spell of pressure was rewarded when the hosts went in front to well and truly kill the tie. Moore was the man who inflicted the damage, heading Burrows' corner past Irish-qualified Max O'Leary from close range. Hamer made it 2-0 on the night shortly as a clever corner routine saw him with time and space on the edge of the area, with his shot deflecting off Haydon Roberts. Tyrese Campbell almost made it 3-0 shortly after coming off the bench when he fizzed an effort just wide and as the Blades wanted to make it a night to remember. Another substitute, O'Hare, got on the scoresheet in the 83rd minute with a fine goal. Campbell burst down the left, Burrows cleverly stepped over his cross, allowing O'Hare to sweep home. It meant the night ended in celebration for the Blades, who paid an emotional tribute to their former player George Baldock, following his tragic death in October after drowning in a swimming pool in Greece.
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster sign Connacht wing Andrew Smith on one-year deal
Munster have secured the signature of Connacht wing Andrew Smith for next season following an impactful month on loan from the western province. The former Ireland sevens Olympian becomes Munster's fifth permanent signing for 2025-26 following the additions of Leicester centre Dan Kelly, Leinster front-rowers Lee Barron and Michael Milne and Connacht fly-half JJ Hanrahan, all of them Irish-qualified. Read More Duncan Casey: Leinster 'victims of their own success'? Give me a break Smith, 24, joined on a short-term loan from Connacht in March and has scored three tries in four appearances, one in the famous Champions Cup Round of 16 win at La Rochelle and another two a week later in the quarter-final defeat at Bordeaux-Begles and he has since added an All Ireland League winners' medal after starting for Clontarf in their Division 1A final victory over Cork Constitution April 27. Munster and the IRFU announced on Tuesday that he had signed a one-year contract to remain at the province.
