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Irish Examiner
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland U20s overcome Georgia to kickstart World Cup campaign
World U20 Championship: Ireland 35 Georgia 28 Ireland got their U-20 World Rugby Championship campaign off to an encouraging start with a bonus point win over a strong Georgian side in Calvisano. Skipper Éanna McCarthy said the key thing was to get the win by a side which finished bottom of the Six Nations earlier this season. 'We knew Georgia was going to be a massive physical battle but we stood up and made a good performance out of it and finished key moments,' said the Cork native who is in the Connacht academy. Head coach Neil Doak will know there is plenty of room for improvement but after winning just one game in the Six Nations the win was all that mattered in stifling heat in northern Italy. They will hope to build on this when they take on the hosts Italy in Viadana next Friday and there were plenty of signs they can achieve a second win there and head into a winner-takes-all final pool showdown with New Zealand. Ireland led 18-14 at the break, having got off to the perfect start when Tullamore RFC product Paidi Farrell crowned his U-20 debut with a try in just over 70 seconds when the winger, who now plays with Old Wesley, scored in the right corner after a pressure blitz from the Irish from the start. When several surges were repelled, out-half Tom Wood went wide with Derry Moloney putting the other winger in for the opening score. Wood, a third generation Irish international following in the footsteps of dad Keith and grandfather Gordon, was off target with the conversion but stretched the lead with a ninth minute penalty and kept the Georgians penned back with some top class kicking from the hand. But the Georgians eventually got on top in the scrum and got back in contention when lock Gagui Margvelashvili was out through by his No.8 Mikheili Shioshvili to score a try converted by full-back Luka Takaishvili to make it 8-7 after 16 minutes. A superb 50:22 down the left by Wood ended with hooker Henry Walker scoring off a good lineout drive, with Wood adding the extras from the wing to make it 15-7. Ireland's wooden spoon finish in the Six Nations had a lot to do with slack defending and Georgia made them pay on the half hour when scrum-half Giorgi Spanderashvili escaped the clutches of five tackles to score from a tapped penalty outside the 22, with Takaishvili cutting the gap to 15-14 with the conversion. Ireland, who had 13 missed tackles to Georgia's three by the break, got their defence sorted and Wood extended the lead with a penalty before Irish tighthead Alex Mullan and Georgian loosehead Bachuki Baratashvili were binned by French referee Jeremy Rozier after repeated reset scrums. Ireland had a chance to extend the lead before the break but amid confusion among the officials over timekeeping, Wood's rushed effort missed the target and they had to settle for 18-14 at the break. Farrell started the second half the same as the first, scoring in the right corner after another good period of sustained pressure, but they were again caught napping at the other end as scrum-half Spanderashvili again tapped and scored from close range to cut the gap to 23-21. But Ireland refused to be rattled and Boyne RFC product Mahon Ronan displayed great strength for the lock to score beside the posts, with Wood's conversion making it 30-21 as Ireland secured the bonus point. Impressive full-back Charlie Molony made the game safe when he stepped inside down the left to score a fine try and make the game safe at 35-21 in the final quarter against a Georgian side who had ten of the side which stretched them all the way in last year's tournament in South Africa. The Georgians deservedly secured a couple of bonus points when replacement hooker Shoya Kheladzescored off a lineout and Takaishvili converted Scorers: Ireland: Tries: P Farrell (2), H Walker, M Ronan, C Molony. Cons: T Wood (2). Pens: Wood (2). Georgia: Tries: G Spanderashvili (2), G Margvelashvili, S Kheladze. Cons: L Takaishvili (4). IRELAND: C Molony; P Farrell (D Green 64), C Mangan, E Smyth (S Wisniewski 65), D Moloney; T Wood, C Logan (W Wootton 56); B Bohan (A Usanov 49)), H Walker (M Yarr 45-50, 60), A Mullan (T McAllister 52); M Ronan, B Corrigan (C Kennelly 56); M Foy, E McCarthy (McAllister 35-45, B Power 56), L Murphy. GEORGIA: L Takaishvili; L Keshelava, D Akhvlediani (S Meskhidze 69), N Kevkhishvili, T Burtikashvili; G Sirbiladze, G Spanderashvili (T Dzodquashvili 64); B Baratashvili (A Nozadze 56), M Khakhubia (S Kheladze 52), M Gurtskaia (G Meskhidze 52); T Tsulukidze (D Baramia 46), G Margvelashvili (N Chkhortolia 56); L Narsia (Nozadze 35-45, N Abesadze 62), A Dvali, M Shioshvili. Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ireland's U-20s set for ‘massive battle' with Georgia
Ireland captain Éanna McCarthy said they went back to the drawing board after finishing bottom of this year's Six Nations and he's confident they have re-aligned themselves to do well at the World Rugby U-20 Championship which kicks off tomorrow when they take on Georgia in Calvisano (5.0, Irish time).
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Neil Doak named Ireland team for for U20 Championship opener
Ireland Under-20 head coach Neil Doak has named his squad, for Sunday's opening game in the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship. Ireland face Georgia's U20 side on Sunday 29 June 2 at 5pm (Irish time) in Calvisano, Italy. Connacht's Éanna McCarthy captains the side after leading the team all through the recent U20 Six Nations. Charlie Molony, Paidi Farrell and Derry Moloney start in Ireland's back three, with Eoghan Smyth and Ciarán Mangan making up the midfield pairing. Tom Wood is at out-half and is joined in the half-backs by Clark Logan. In the pack, Billy Bohan, Henry Walker and Alex Mullan are in the front row, Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan in the engine room and Luke Murphy joins Michael Foy and McCarthy in the back row. Mikey Yarr, Alex Usanov, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennelly and Bobby Power are the forwards available to Doak and his Coaching Team on the bench, with backs Will Wootton, Sam Wisniewski and Daniel Green completing Ireland's 23.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McCarthy: Ireland U20s went back to the drawing board
Ireland captain Éanna McCarthy said they went back to the drawing board after finishing bottom of this year's Six Nations and he's confident they have re-aligned themselves to do well at the World Rugby U20 Championship which kicks off on Sunday when they take on Georgia in Calvisano (5pm Irish time). The Connacht flanker said the squad have settled in well at their base near Lake Garda and have been acclimatising to the 30 degree heat in the past few days and are ready to hit the ground running in a group which will also include ties with hosts Italy and New Zealand. McCarthy said they obviously were not happy with their results from the Six Nations where their only win came against Scotland. 'We went kind of back to the drawing board after it and I suppose we kind of saw where we were falling down in areas and we've worked on them big time so, yeah, we're feeling happy enough going into now. 'I think we had a lot of green entries during the Six Nations that we couldn't convert so when we did go back to the drawing board after it we kind of put our finger on that and we've been practising a good bit around breakdown habits and kind of banker balls with our pack,' said the Cork native who is heading into his second year in the Connacht academy. McCarthy has not played against Georgia in any other grade but is in no doubt about the task they face against a country participating in this competition for the seventh year in succession. 'Georgia definitely is going to be a massive battle up front,' added McCarthy. 'I think the forward pack will have to step up big time because they have big men coming against us so that's our first hope to beat them and get a good start to the work.' Ireland, with Keith Wood's son Tom starting at out-half where he will be partnered by Ulster's Clark Logan, have appeared in all 14 U20 tournaments so far, twice reaching the final. They finished seventh and eighth when the tournament was previously held in Italy and were beaten semi-finalists last year in South Africa, having been runners-up to France the previous year. Head coach Neil Doak is boosted by the return of prop Alex Usanov who missed the Six Nations through injury and the Clontarf RFC player is named on a strong bench as Ireland bid for a winning start against a Georgia side they have beaten in three of their four previous meetings at the tournament. Ireland will play Italy in Viadana next Wednesday and conconclude the group phase with a clash against New Zealand back in Calvisano. IRELAND U20: C Molony (Leinster), P Farrell (Leinster), C Mangan (Leinster), E Smyth (Munster), D Moloney (Leinster), T Wood (Munster), C Logan (Ulster); B Bohan (Connacht), H Walker (Ulster), A Mullan (Leinster), M Ronan (Leinster), B Corrigan (Leinster), M Foy (Munster), É McCarthy (Connacht, captain), L Murphy (Munster) Replacements: M Yarr (Leinster), A Usanov (Leinster), T McAllister (Ulster), C Kennelly (Munster), B Power (Connacht), W Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), S Wisniewski (Leinster), D Green (Ulster)
The 42
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland U20 men's and women's squads announced for summer tournaments
THE MEN'S AND women's squads that will represent Ireland in their respective U20 tournaments this summer have been announced. Neil Doak's side will compete in the men's U20 World Championship with Connacht's Éanna McCarthy captaining the 30-player squad for the trip to Italy. 'It's been a challenging season,,' says Doak, 'but this group has shown resilience and real character. We know the competition at the World Championships will be fierce, but these experiences have made us stronger. We're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves on the world stage.' Niamh Briggs has named a 35-person squad for the women's U20 2025 Summer Series in Wales, with Wicklow's Jane Neill named as captain again for the second year of the competition. 'This competition represents a significant step in our player development pathway. It provides a valuable opportunity for young athletes to challenge themselves against top-level opposition, experience the demands of an international environment, and continue their progression toward senior rugby,' Briggs said. Advertisement Ireland U20 Men Squad Forwards Billy Bohan – Corinthians RFC/Connacht Billy Corrigan – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Michael Foy – Cork Constitution FC/Munster Conor Kennelly – Highfield RFC/Munster Tom McAllister – Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster Éanna McCarthy – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Luke McLaughlin – Old Belvedere/Leinster Oisin Minogue – Shannon RFC/Munster Paddy Moore – Blackrock RFC/Leinster Alex Mullan – Blackrock RFC/Leinster Luke Murphy – Young Munster RFC/Munster Bobby Power – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Mahon Ronan – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Alex Usanov – Clontarf FC/Leinster Henry Walker – Queens University/Ulster David Walsh – Terenure RFC/Leinster Mikey Yarr – UCD RFC/Leinster Backs Connor Fahy – Clontarf FC/Leinster Paidi Farrell – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Dan Green – Queens University/Ulster Clark Logan – Queens University/Ulster Ciaran Mangan – Blackrock College RFC/Leinster Derry Moloney – Blackrock College RFC/Leinster Charlie Molony – UCD RFC/Leinster Chris O'Connor – Terenure College RFC/Leinster Gene O'Leary Kareem – UCC RFC/Munster Eoghan Smyth – Cork Constitution FC/Munster Sam Wisniewski – Old Belvedere/Leinster Tom Wood – Garryown RFC/Munster Will Wootton – Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby Ireland Men U20 Fixtures: Ireland v Georgia, 29 June, 5pm Ireland v Italy, 4 July, 7.30pm New Zealand v Ireland, 9 July, 5pm Ireland U20 Women Squad Forwards Jemima Adams Verling – Creggs RFC/Connacht Alma Atagamen – Balbriggan RFC/Leinster Sophie Barrett – Enniskillen RFC/Ulster Grainne Burke – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Ella Burns – Tuam/Oughterard & Galwegians RFC/Connacht Beth Buttimer – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Maebh Clenaghan – Queens University Belfast RFC/Ulster Carla Cooney – Tullow RFC/Leinster Aoife Corcoran – MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster Saoirse Crowe – Shannon RFC/UL Bohemian RFC / Munster Poppy Garvey – Railway Union RFC/Connacht Beibhinn Gleeson – Tuam/Oughterard/Connacht Sally Kelly – Ennis RFC/Munster Merisa Kiripati – Creggs RFC/Connacht Lily Morris – Ballincollig RFC/Munster Jane Neill – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Aoibhe O Flynn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Rosie Searle – Navan RFC/Leinster Backs Emma Brogan – MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster Hannah Clarke – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Lyndsay Clarke – Ennis RFC/Munster Katie Corrigan – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Clara Dunne- Wicklow RFC/Leinster Caitriona Finn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Emily Foley – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Jade Gaffney – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Niamh Gallagher – Saracens/IQ Rugby May Goulding – Old Albians/Saracens/IQ Rugby Lucia Linn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Caoimhe McCormack – Railway Union RFC/Leinster Grainne Moran – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Robyn O'Connor – Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster Tara O'Neill – Cooke RFC/Ulster Ellie O Sullivan Sexton – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Hannah Scanlon – Railway Union RFC/Leinster Ireland U20 Women Fixtures:
