Ireland national under-20 rugby union team

Rugby team

Ireland U-20

Union| Irish Rugby Football Union
Emblem(s)| Shamrock
Ground(s)| Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,008)
Coach(es)| Willie Faloon
Captain(s)| Evan O'Connell
Most caps| Dominic Ryan (20)
Iain Henderson (20)
Top scorer| Ross Byrne (129)
Most tries| Andrew Conway (14)

Team kit

Change kit

|

First international
Ireland 17–15 Wales
(2 February 2007)
Largest win
Scotland 7–82 Ireland
(10 March 2023)[1]
Largest defeat
New Zealand 69–3 Ireland
(8 June 2017)
World Cup
Appearances| 13 (First in 2008)
Best result| 2nd, 2016, 2023

The Ireland national under-20 rugby team was formed in 2006, having previously been known as the under-21 team.

## History

[edit]

Ireland have won the Grand Slam four times and the Six Nations Championship five times: 2007, 2010, 2019, 2022 and 2023. In the pandemic-truncated competition in 2020, Ireland won the Triple Crown. At the time the competition was halted, Ireland were undefeated and led the table. However, this was not considered a championship nor a grand slam.[2][3][4] Ireland won two consecutive Grand Slams in the 2022 and 2023 Six Nations championships, but were denied a third consecutive Grand Slam and championship title following a draw away to England.[5] Despite Ireland and England having both recorded four wins and a draw, England were crowned champions as they had earned one more try bonus point than Ireland.[5]

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

Head coach Willie Faloon named his 30–man squad for the 2024 U20 Rugby Championship on 14 June.[6]

Name | Date of Birth | Position | Club | Province

|
|
|
|

Alex Usanov | 10 July 2005 | Prop | Clontarf | Leinster
Danny Sheehan | 7 April 2004 | Hooker | Cork Constitution | Munster
Stephen Smyth | 1 August 2004 | Hooker | Old Wesley | Leinster
Patreece Bell | 23 May 2004 | Prop |  Sale Sharks | IQ Rugby
Jacob Boyd | 10 July 2004 | Prop | Queen's University | Ulster
Andrew Sparrow | 15 November 2004 | Prop | UCD | Leinster
Billy Corrigan | 25 June 2005 | Lock | Old Wesley | Leinster
Evan O'Connell (c) | 4 May 2004 | Lock | UL Bohemians | Munster
Alan Spicer | 4 May 2005 | Lock | UCD | Leinster
Bryn Ward | 17 July 2004 | Back-row | Ballynahinch | Ulster
Sean Edogbo | 8 May 2004 | Back-row | UCC | Munster
Brian Gleeson | 5 February 2004 | Back-row | Garryowen | Munster
Luke Murphy | 27 January 2005 | Back-row | Shannon | Munster
James McKillop  |  | Back-row | Queen's University | Ulster
Max Flynn  |  | Flanker | Corinthians | Connacht
Emmet Calvey  |  | Prop | Shannon | Munster
Mikey Yarr  |  | Hooker | Lansdowne | Leinster
Oliver Coffey | 13 September 2004 | Scrum-half | Blackrock College | Leinster
Tadhg Brophy | 18 September 2004 | Scrum-half | Naas | Leinster
Jake O'Riordan | 17 December 2004 | Scrum-half | UL Bohemians | Munster
Jack Murphy | 15 July 2004 | Fly-half | Clontarf | Leinster
Sean Naughton | 19 October 2004 | Fly-half | Corinthians | Connacht
Hugo McLaughlin | 26 May 2004 | Wing | Lansdowne | Leinster
Finn Treacy | 14 August 2004 | Wing | Galwegians | Connacht
Hugh Gavin | 10 January 2004 | Centre | Galwegians | Connacht
Wilhelm de Klerk | 16 August 2004 | Centre | UCD | Leinster
Ben O'Connor | 20 August 2004 | Fullback | UCC | Munster
Ruben Moloney  |  | Fullback | UCD | Leinster
Sam Berman  |  | Centre | Terenure College | Leinster
Davy Colbert  |  | Wing | Dublin University | Leinster

### Award winners

[edit]

The following Ireland U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008:[7]

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year Year  | Nominees  | Winners

|
|

2012  | JJ Hanrahan | —
2014  | Garry Ringrose
2016  | Max Deegan | Max Deegan

## Coaching and management

[edit]

Position  | Name

|

Head coach  | Richie Murphy
Forwards coach  | Jimmy Duffy
Skills and backs coach  | Mark Sexton
Defence coach  | Willie Faloon
Team manager  | Hendrik Kruger
Athletic performance coach  | Martin Kennedy
Performance analyst  | John Buckley
Media and communications  | Ryan Bailey

## Overall record

[edit]

Opposition|  Played|  Won|  Drawn|  Lost|  % Won|  For|  Aga|  Diff

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Argentina|  5|  3|  0|  2|  60%|  101|  73|  +28
Australia|  4|  2|  0|  2|  50%|  83|  98|  –15
England|  27|  10|  2|  15|  37.04%|  609|  747|  –138
Fiji|  3|  3|  0|  0|  100%|  131|  30|  +101
France|  24|  11|  0|  13|  45.83%|  484|  573|  –89
Georgia|  4|  3|  0|  1|  75%|  101|  65|  +36
Japan|  1|  1|  0|  0|  100%|  39|  33|  +6
Italy|  23|  21|  1|  1|  91.3%|  702|  355|  +347
New Zealand|  9|  1|  0|  8|  11.11%|  139|  354|  –215
Samoa|  3|  2|  0|  1|  66.67%|  92|  45|  +47
Scotland|  26|  21|  0|  5|  80.77%|  831|  505|  +326
South Africa|  6|  2|  0|  4|  33.33%|  136|  193|  –57
Tonga|  1|  1|  0|  0|  100%|  45|  27|  +18
Uruguay|  1|  1|  0|  0|  100%|  45|  0|  +45
Wales|  24|  13|  1|  10|  54.17%|  608|  474|  +134
Total|  161|  95|  4|  62|  59.01%|  4,146|  3,572|  +574

Correct as of 22 July 2024[8]

### Six Nations Under 20s Championship

[edit]

Main article: Six Nations Under 20s Championship

Year  | Pos  | Played  | W  | D  | L  | PF  | PA  | PD  | TF  | TA  | TD  | LBP  | TBP  | Triple Crown  | Grand Slam

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2008 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 90 | –34 | 3 | 13 | –10 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2009 | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 88 | –2 | 5 | 9 | –4 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2010 | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 62 | 85 | 17 | 5 | 12 | N/A | N/A | Yes | No
2011 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 147 | 99 | 48 | 11 | 14 | –3 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2012 | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 46 | 40 | 7 | 4 | 3 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2013 | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 98 | 83 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 4 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2014 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 74 | 79 | –5 | 7 | 8 | –1 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2015 | 5th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 90 | 30 | 13 | 10 | 3 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2016 | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 108 | 120 | –18 | 10 | 12 | –2 | N/A | N/A | No | No
2017 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 111 | 122 | –11 | 12 | 13 | –1 | 1 | 0 | No | No
2018 | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 145 | 182 | –37 | 21 | 26 | –5 | 1 | 3 | No | No
2019 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 92 | 58 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | Yes | Yes
2020 | Cancelled | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 69 | 44 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Yes | Cancelled
2021 | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 100 | 51 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 3 | No | No
2022 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 65 | 145 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 4 | Yes | Yes
2023 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 239 | 116 | 123 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 4 | Yes | Yes
2024 | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 171 | 93 | 78 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 4 | No | No

### World Rugby U20 Championship

[edit]

Main article: World Rugby U20 Championship

Year  | Place  | Pool  | Played  | W  | D  | L  | PF  | PA  | PD  | TF  | TA  | TD  | LBP  | TBP

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2008 | 9th | A | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 127 | –15 | 11 | 13 | –2 | 0 | 1
2009 | 8th | A | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 54 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1
2010 | 9th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 154 | 118 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0
2011 | 8th | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 120 | 183 | –63 | 11 | 24 | –13 | 0 | 0
2012 | 5th | B | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 70 | 54 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1
2013 | 8th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 121 | 86 | 35 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1
2014 | 4th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 124 | 127 | –3 | 14 | 16 | –2 | 1 | 2
2015 | 7th | C | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 92 | –18 | 6 | 9 | –3 | 0 | 0
2016 | 2nd | A | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 173 | 153 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1
2017 | 9th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 167 | –39 | 16 | 25 | –9 | 2 | 0
2018 | 11th | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 129 | 158 | –29 | 16 | 23 | –7 | 2 | 0
2019 | 8th | B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 155 | –18 | 18 | 20 | –2 | 0 | 2
2020–2022  | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023 | 2nd | B | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 156 | 133 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 3
2024 | 4th* | B | 4* | 2 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 100 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1
*The 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship Pool B match between Ireland and Australia was cancelled due to weather conditions, rendering the pitch unplayable and unsafe. Both teams were awarded two points.[9][10]

## Honours

[edit]

* Six Nations Under 20s Championship:
* Winner (5): 2007, 2010, 2019, 2022, 2023
* Grand Slam:
* Winner (4): 2007, 2019, 2022, 2023
* Triple Crown:
* Winner (6): 2007, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
* World Rugby Under 20 Championship:
* Runner Up (2): 2016, 2023

## See also

[edit]

* Ireland national rugby union team
* Ireland Wolfhounds
* Emerging Ireland
* Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team
* Six Nations Under 20s Championship
* World Rugby Under 20 Championship

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U20 Six Nations: Ireland thrash Scotland to move one step closer to Grand Slam". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
2. ^ "Ireland Under-20s Complete Grand Slam Mission With Bonus Point Flourish". Irish Rugby. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
3. ^ "Nine-try Ireland U20s crush Scotland to claim Grand Slam success". The42. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
4. ^ "Six-try Ireland U20s make history with back-to-back Grand Slam titles". The42. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
5. ^ a b "Six Nations U20s Championship: Ireland 36 Scotland 0". Irish Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
6. ^ "Murphy Announces Ireland Under-20 Squad For 2024 U-20 Six Nations". Irish Rugby. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
7. ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
8. ^ "Fixtures & Results". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
9. ^ "Ireland v Australia in World U20 Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 July 2024.
10. ^ Williamson, Nathan (9 July 2024). "Australia U20s coach Grey blasts call to cancel Ireland game, ending World Championship semi-final hopes". rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.

## External links

[edit]

* Ireland U-20 Squad from official IRFU site

* v
* t
* e

Ireland national rugby union team

* Irish Rugby Football Union

History|

* History
* Records

Players|

* All Players
* Brian O'Driscoll (tries
* caps)

Home stadiums|

* Aviva Stadium
* Lansdowne Road
* Croke Park

Competitions and trophies|

* Rugby World Cup
* Six Nations Championship
* Triple Crown
* Grand Slam
* Ireland national rugby union team tours
* Admiral Brown Cup
* Centenary Quaich
* Lansdowne Cup
* Millennium Trophy

Related teams|

* Sevens
* Ireland Wolfhounds
* Emerging Ireland
* Irish Exiles
* Universities
* U20s
* Schoolboys

Matches by opponent|

* Argentina
* Australia
* Barbarians
* England
* France
* Italy
* New Zealand
* Scotland
* South Africa
* United States
* Wales

Tours|

| Australia|

* 1967
* 1979
* 1994
* 1999
* 2003
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2018
* 2020

|

New Zealand|

* 1976
* 1992
* 1997
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2022

South Africa and Namibia|

* 1961
* 1981
* 1991
* 1998
* 2004
* 2016

France and Europe|

* 1988

Americas|

* Canada 1899
* South America 1952
* Argentina 1970
* North America 1989
* 2000
* Argentina 2007
* North America 2009
* North America 2013
* Argentina 2014

Oceania|

* 1976
* 1997
* 2003

Japan|

* 1985
* 2005
* 2017

See also|

* The Fields of Athenry
* Ireland's Call
* "Zombie"

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Ireland

Irish Rugby Football Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Senior
* Sevens
* Ireland Wolfhounds
* Emerging Ireland
* Universities
* U20s
* Schoolboys

|

Women's|

* Senior
* Sevens

URC teams|

* Connacht
* Leinster
* Munster
* Ulster

Competitions|

| European|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* United Rugby Championship
* British and Irish Cup
* Celtic Cup

|

National|

* IRFU Interprovincial Championship
* IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series
* All-Ireland League
* All-Ireland Cup

Provincial leagues|

* Connacht Senior League
* Leinster Senior League
* Munster Senior League
* Ulster Senior League

Provincial senior cups|

* Connacht Senior Cup
* Leinster Senior Cup
* Munster Senior Cup
* Ulster Senior Cup

Provincial junior cups|

* Leinster Towns Cup
* Munster Junior Cup
* Ulster Junior Cup

Intervarsity|

* The Colours Match

Schools senior cups|

* Connacht Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Ulster Schools' Cup

Schools junior cups|

* Connacht Schools Junior Cup
* Leinster Schools Junior Cup
* Munster Schools Junior Cup
* Ulster Medallion Shield

Related articles|

* List of Ireland national rugby union players
* Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union
* London Irish
* Dublin Hospitals Rugby Cup

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of Ireland

* A1GP
* Australian rules
* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* M
* M U-20
* M U-18
* M U-16
* M 3x3
* W
* W U-20
* W U-18
* W U-16
* W 3x3
* Beach soccer
* Cricket
* M
* M U-19
* W
* W U-19
* Field hockey
* M
* W
* Football
* M
* M U-23
* M U-21
* M U-19
* M U-17
* W
* W U-19
* W U-17
* CP
* Futsal
* International rules football
* M
* W
* Handball
* Hurling
* Ice hockey
* M
* U-20
* U-18
* W
* Korfball
* Netball
* Pitch and putt
* Racquetball
* Roller derby
* Rugby League
* M
* W
* Wheelchair
* Rugby union
* M
* MU-20
* Schoolboy
* M7
* W
* W7
* Squash
* M
* W
* Tennis
* M
* W
* Volleyball
* Water polo

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Deaflympics
* European Games
* Commonwealth Games

* v
* t
* e

Six Nations Under 20s Championship

Teams|

* England
* France
* Ireland
* Italy
* Scotland
* Wales

Tournaments|

* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Honours|

* Triple Crown
* Grand Slam
* Wooden Spoon

* Six Nations
* Women's Championship

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template