Latest news with #Under20WorldChampionship
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Neil Doak names Ireland Under-20 side for World Championship opener against Georgia
Under-20 World Championship Ireland v Georgia, Stadio San Michele, Sunday, 5pm Irish time (Live on Rugby Pass TV) It's been a difficult season to date for the Ireland Under-20s, losing four of five matches in the Six Nations and finishing bottom of the table. To compound matters they suffered a heavy defeat to Scotland, the only team they beat in that tournament, in a warm-up game ahead of the World Championship. There were some mitigating circumstances for Neil Doak's side, injuries depriving them of key players, but it doesn't begin to explain the recurring performance glitches that undermined their ambition. Aspects of their patterns were good, they didn't lack courage or character, but they got lost very easily in the weeds of their mistakes. The playing personnel didn't deviate much despite the results with the majority of changes coming in a turnstile selection within the matchday 23 from one game to the next, where starters were benched and then reinstated and vice versa. READ MORE There is a presumption that secondrow Alan Spicer and tighthead prop Niall Smyth are still sidelined through injury. In more uplifting news, prop Alex Usanov, Luke Murphy and Derry Moloney are all fully rehabilitated in time for Sunday's opening game in Calvisano. Ireland's Páidí Farrell. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Tullamore native Páidí Farrell, who plays with Old Wesley, will make his first start in a tournament game. He possesses a rare attribute in Irish rugby circles, top-end pace and given reasonable ball is a try-scoring threat as he demonstrated capably and consistently in the All-Ireland League. There is a nice balance and plenty of footballing ability in the back three of Farrell, Charlie Molony and Derry Moloney, while the relocation of Ciarán Mangan (younger brother of Leinster's Diarmuid) from wing to outside centre bodes well from an attacking perspective. He plays alongside the hard running Eoghan Smyth in midfield. Tom Wood, son of former Ireland international Keith, has won the number 10 shirt, with Clark Logan at scrumhalf. In the Six Nations, Wood showed a nice skill set and self-possession to play his way through tougher moments. He has a better kicking game than his dad. Billy Bohan, a player to emerge with credit during the Six Nations, teams up with Henry Walker and Alex Mullan in a ball-playing frontrow. Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan put in huge shifts in every match, while Murphy's addition to a backrow which also contains captain Éanna McCarthy and Michael Foy, introduces steel and quality. Foy was arguably Ireland's best player in the Six Nations, a turbocharged presence on both sides of the ball. Ireland's bench has a number of players who can change the tempo of a match, none more so than replacement scrumhalf Will Wootton. Georgia will test Ireland's mettle at the set piece, breakdown and on the gain-line. As they demonstrated last year when the sides met in this tournament, the Georgians are very sticky opponents, with Ireland squeezing home in a one-score game. They'd bite your hand off for a similar result here. Doak's side will later play hosts Italy and New Zealand in their other pool games. IRELAND: Charlie Molony (UCD); Páidí Farrell (Old Wesley); Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College), Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution), Derry Moloney (Blackrock College); Tom Wood (Garryowen), Clark Logan (QUB); Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians), Henry Walker (QUB), Alex Mullan (Blackrock College); Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley); Michael Foy (UCC), Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians, capt), Luke Murphy (Young Munster). Replacements : Mikey Yarr (UCD), Alex Usanov (Clontarf), Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch), Conor Kennelly (Highfield), Bobby Power (Galwegians), Will Wootton (Sale Sharks) Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere), Daniel Green (QUB). Referee : J Rozier (France). Under-20 World Championship Fixtures (all Irish times) Sunday, June 29th Ireland v Georgia, Calvisano, 5pm Friday, July 4th Ireland v Italy, Viadana, 7.30pm Wednesday, July 9th Ireland v New Zealand, Calvisano, 5pm
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales take belief into U20 World Champs
Wales captain Harry Beddall says his side will take a lot of belief going into the Under-20 World Championship off the back of their best Six Nations finish in eight beat Italy and Ireland before denying England a Grand Slam in a thrilling finale to finish third in the Whiffin's side now head out to Italy where they will kick-off their World Championship campaign against Argentina on 29 will then face France on 4 July before completing the Pool B stage against Spain on 9 July."Belief is something we drive in the camp, if we don't believe in ourselves we're not going to get the job done," said Beddall. "We take a lot of confidence from that Six Nations, we showed what we are capable of, but there was also some blips which we've still got to work on."We've taken a load of learnings from that first game against France, and the Six Nations in general, and we're looking to take them forward into the championship."Wales produced a heroic defensive shift to beat England 23-13 at Cardiff Arms Park in March, putting in 184 tackles and Beddall hopes they can show more of Wales' attack in this next campaign. "We want to be on the ball more, that's how you win games by scoring tries," said Beddall."The [Italian] heat is going to take a lot out of us, especially if we're defending for large periods of the game." Wales squad Forwards: Ioan Emanuel, Louie Trevett, Harry Thomas, Saul Hurley, Evan Wood, Sam Scott, Owain James, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemine, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Caio James, Evan Sion Davies, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford, Steffan Emanuel, Elis Price, Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Aidan Boshoff, Lewis Edwards, Jack Woods, Tom Bowen. Wales' Pool B fixtures Sunday, 29 JuneArgentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST)Friday, 4 JulyFrance U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST)Wednesday, 9 JulyWales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST).
Irish Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Neil Doak names two uncapped players in Ireland squad for Under-20 World Championship squad
Ireland head coach Neil Doak has named two uncapped players in hooker Luke McLaughlin and Tullamore-born wing Páidí Farrell in the squad for the Under-20 World Championship, which starts later this month across four venues in Italy. There was some good news in that prop Alex Usanov, who played last season at this age-grade but missed the Six Nations through injury, is fit. So too is Shannon number eight Luke Murphy, who was a key member of last year's squad but also missed the Six Nations. Murphy, secondrow Billy Corrigan, hooker Mikey Yarr and prop Alex Mullan played in last year's World Cup. Unfortunately, six foot 10-inch Alan Spicer, who played for the 20s last season but missed the Six Nations, is absent, as is promising American born tighthead prop Niall Smyth, who had shoulder surgery following an injury in an A interprovincial against Munster earlier in the season. It was expected that both would be available. McLaughlin, who played AIL for Old Belvedere is a year young for this age-grade. His older brother Hugo played on the 20s last season. Farrell's elevation is not before time, a young player with top-end speed, a frequent try scorer for Old Wesley and a former underage international at 15s and Sevens. READ MORE Doak has largely stuck with the group of players that finished bottom of the Six Nations with just a single victory over Scotland. They lost heavily to the Scots 48-29 in a World Cup warm-up game in Belfast last weekend. Derry Moloney returns after picking up an injury in the England game, but Todd Lawlor, if fit, would have been unlucky to miss out. Ireland face Georgia, whom they squeezed past in the World Cup last year in their opening game, then hosts Italy, who beat Doak's side in the Six Nations but lost to Ireland in the World Championship in South Africa last summer. In the final pool game they will take on New Zealand, who beat them 38-24 in the bronze-medal match in this tournament last year. Meanwhile, Ireland Under-20 women's head coach Niamh Briggs has named a 35-strong squad for the 2025 Summer Series taking place in Wales. The series returns for a second year, offering the future stars of women's rugby the opportunity to gain important experience on the international stage, and a new step on the development pathway towards the elite game. Eleven players return to the squad having taken part in the inaugural Summer Series last year and Wicklow's Jane Neill captains the side again. Ireland men's under-20 squad – Forwards: A Usanov (Leinster), P Moore (Leinster), B Bohan (Connacht), H Walker (Ulster), L McLaughlin (Leinster), M Yarr (Leinster), A Mullan (Leinster), T McAllister (Ulster), M Ronan (Leinster), B Corrigan (Leinster), D Walsh (Leinster), C Kennelly (Munster), B Power (Connacht), L Murphy (Munster), M Foy (Munster), E McCarthy (Connacht, capt), O Minogue (Munster). Backs: C O'Connor (Leinster), C Logan (Ulster), W Wootton (Sale Sharks), T Wood (Munster), S Wisniewski (Leinster), C Fahy (Leinster), E Smyth (Munster), C Mangan (Leinster), G O'Leary Kareem (Munster), C Molony (Leinster), D Moloney (Leinster), P Farrell (Leinster), D Green (Ulster). Fixtures (all time Irish) June 29th: Ireland v Georgia, Stadio San Michele, 5pm. July 4th: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, 7.30pm. July 9th: Ireland v New Zealand, Stadio San Michele, 5pm. July 14th: Playoff matches. July 19th: Playoff matches including final. Ieland women's under-20 squad – Forwards: J Adams Verling (Creggs), A Atagamen (Balbriggan), S Barrett (Enniskillen), G Burke (UL Bohemian), E Burns (Tuam/Oughterard & Galwegians), B Buttimer (UL Bohemian), M Clenaghan (QUB), C Cooney (Tullow), A Corcoran (MU Barnhall), S Crowe (Shannon/UL Bohemian), P Garvey (Railway Union), B Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard), S Kelly (Ennis), M Kiripati (Creggs), L Morris (Ballincollig), J Neill (Old Belvedere), A O Flynn (UL Bohemian), R Searle (Navan). Backs: E Brogan (MU Barnhall), H Clarke (Galwegians), L Clarke (Ennis), K Corrigan (Old Belvedere), C Dunne (Wicklow), C Finn (UL Bohemian), E Foley (Galwegians), J Gaffney (Old Belvedere), N Gallagher (Saracens/IQ Rugby), M Goulding (Old Albians/Saracens/IQ Rugby), L Linn (UL Bohemian), C McCormack (Railway Union), G Moran (Galwegians), R O'Connor (Wexford Wanderers), T O'Neill (Cooke), E O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere), H Scanlon (Railway Union). Fixtures July 5th: Wales v Ireland, 3.30pm. July 11th: Ireland v France, 3.30pm. July 17th: Scotland v Ireland, 1pm.
