U-20s SIx Nations

Leinster dominate Ireland XV for Under-20s Six Nations opener

Published

1 year ago

28th January 2025

Ireland's Alex Usanov ahead of the 2024 Under 20 Six Nations Championship Round 5 between Ireland and Scotland in Virgin Media Park, Cork, Ireland Friday, March 15, 2024 (Photo by Laszlo Geczo / Inpho)

Ireland U20s head coach Neil Doak has unveiled his first team selection ahead of Thursday’s Six Nations opener against England at Virgin Media Park in Cork, with Connacht Academy forward Éanna McCarthy set to captain the side.

The Ireland Men's U20s team to face England in Thursday's U20 Six Nations opener in Cork! 🟢#FutureIsGreen

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 28, 2025

The match day squad features strong Leinster representation, with nine players from the eastern province named in the starting XV, underlining their continued strength at age-grade level.

The back three sees UCD’s Charlie Molony at fullback, with Blackrock College duo Derry Moloney and Ciaran Mangan on the wings. Clontarf’s Connor Fahy partners Munster’s Eoghan Smyth in the centres, while Old Belvedere’s Sam Wisniewski and Ulster’s Clark Logan make up the half-back pairing.

In the forwards, Doak has opted for experience with three players from last year’s campaign starting in the front row. Clontarf’s Alex Usanov, Ulster’s Henry Walker, and Blackrock College’s Alex Mullan will pack down together, while Old Wesley pair Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan – another returnee from last season – combine in the second row. The back row sees Munster’s Michael Foy at blindside flanker, Connacht’s Bobby Power at openside, with captain McCarthy controlling proceedings from number eight.

McCarthy’s appointment as captain comes after an impressive trajectory through the ranks, having previously led CBC Cork in the Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2023 and captaining the Munster Under-19s last season before joining the Connacht academy. The number eight gained valuable experience with Ireland Under-19s against France last Easter.

The match, which kicks off at 7.45pm, sees last season’s champions England face an Ireland side looking to reclaim their crown after narrowly missing out on three consecutive Grand Slams in 2024. England secured the title through bonus points and a hard-fought draw against Ireland in the corresponding fixture last year.

The bench offers strong cover with Ulster’s Connor Magee, Connacht’s Billy Bohan, Ulster’s Tom McAllister, Leinster’s David Walsh, and Munster’s Oisin Minogue providing forward options, while Leinster’s Andrew Doyle joins Munster’s Gene O’Leary Kareem and Ulster’s Daniel Green as backline reinforcements.

The match will be broadcast live on Virgin Media Two in the Republic of Ireland and on the BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, as these two unbeaten sides from last season’s championship prepare to lock horns in what could prove to be a pivotal encounter in determining the outcome of this year’s tournament.

Ireland Men’s U20s:

15. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
13. Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
11. Ciaran Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
10. Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9. Clark Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

1. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2. Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
4. Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
5. Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
6. Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster)
7. Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
8. Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Connor Magee (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
17. Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
18. Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
19. David Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
20. Oisin Minogue (Shannon RFC/Munster)
21. Andrew Doyle (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
22. Gene O’Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Daniel Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).

England

England U20s grind out victory over Ireland despite red card

Published

1 year ago

30th January 2025

rugbyisthegame

England U20s grind out victory over Ireland despite red card

England's Olamide Sodeke celebrates a penalty call during 2025 Under 20 Six Nations Championship Round 1 between Ireland and England in Virgin Media Park, Cork, Ireland, Thursday, January 30, 2025 (Photo by Ryan Byrne / Inpho)

England U20s survived an early red card to claim a commanding 19-3 victory over Ireland in their Six Nations opener at a rain-swept Virgin Media Park in Cork.

England U20 Men begin their campaign with a win on the road 🌹 pic.twitter.com/zs0ozNhfkQ

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 30, 2025

Despite losing Junior Kpoku to a 14th-minute red card for a high tackle, the defending champions showed remarkable defensive resilience and were guided by the excellent goal-kicking of fly-half Ben Coen, who contributed 12 points with the boot.

The visitors weathered both the conditions and a numerical disadvantage – at one point playing with 13 men when captain Tom Burrow was sin-binned – to take a 9-3 lead into halftime. Ireland, despite having the majority of possession during this period, could only muster three points through Sam Wisniewski’s penalty.

The decisive moment came in the 67th minute when England were awarded a penalty try after Ireland illegally collapsed a driving maul near their line. Irish replacement Oisin Minogue was shown a yellow card for the infringement, effectively ending any hopes of a home comeback.

Ireland, playing under new head coach Neil Doak, showed glimpses of attacking promise, particularly through centre Connor Fahy and flanker Michael Foy, but struggled to convert territory into points against England’s suffocating defence. The hosts had multiple entries into England’s 22 but were repeatedly thwarted by the visitors’ outstanding defensive effort.

England number eight Kane James delivered a man-of-the-match performance, while the powerful front-row duo of Kepu Tuipulotu and Vilikesa Sela provided a strong platform at the set-piece. Coen’s tactical kicking and accuracy off the tee proved crucial in managing the game, with his fourth penalty in the closing minutes sealing an impressive away victory.

The result marks England’s first U20s win in Ireland since 2017 and sets them up perfectly for their title defence, while Ireland will need to regroup quickly after seeing their 13-match unbeaten run in the Six Nations come to an end before a record crowd of 8,800 in Cork.

The win puts England in a strong position ahead of their clash with France at The Rec next week, while Ireland will be looking to bounce back from this setback when they face Wales in their next fixture.