Ireland U20's 2022

[Dave Cahill]

That really was an outstanding campaign. Huge credit to the players on the pitch and those in the wider squad who pushed them to perform at their best. There was really strong competition for places in a number of positions, particularly on the wing, in the centres and in the backrow.

A serious coaching job from Richie Murphy, Jimmy Duffy, Willie Falloon and Mark Sexton – we looked better coached than every other team we played, and we looked in a completely different class to the Scottish and Welsh teams. Those sides laboured so much to produce any points or even cohesive play, and they are the best U20s that their countries can offer. The difference in standards in so many coachable areas – how the lineout functioned, how we mauled, how we set up to receive kicks, how the players re-aligned in phase play etc. – was staggering.

My highlight of the tournament would have to be Ben Brownlee's last-minute try against France to set up the win – it would be the highlight of any team's campaign. But the great win against England and Aitzol King's couple of tries were outstanding, and the way we ruthlessly dismantled Scotland and Wales was a credit to the coaches' efforts and the players' strength of will.

Reuben Crothers was a class act as captain. His workrate was absolutely exemplary and he's got the competitive edge. Really impressive composure and leadership throughout. Whether we were behind on the scoreboard or running away with it, Ireland never gave up or eased up – the sign of a champion team with a great captain.

Well done the lads.

Great summation of the tournament

[ronk]

Covid disruption was severe this year, before the tournament anyway. So much of U20s is how well a group gels quickly.

Our coaching team got it right, aided by some clearly outstanding players. Players bolted too.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

What Hugo is basically saying there is that the team has everything, and I agree. Brilliant tournament from all concerned. It’s such a pity that there isn’t a JWC, they’d have had a great chance of doing well.

I think you could look look through every game and pick out different standout performers.

[Twist]

I hadn't seen much of Jack Boyle prior to this but he's a really exciting player in a position where we need a really exciting player coming through.

[JB1973]

so where do these guys go next? Will any play for the Provinces in the near future? Do they go to the AIL or out on loan?

[mildlyinterested]

so where do these guys go next? Will any play for the Provinces in the near future? Do they go to the AIL or out on loan?

AIL then slowly play provincial.

If there is A games they'll play in them too.

[hugonaut]

so where do these guys go next? Will any play for the Provinces in the near future? Do they go to the AIL or out on loan?

Our academy players train with the senior squad; our sub-academy/Tier 1 players don't. Occasionally some of them may get called in, but as a guideline it's a separate station.

Only one of the Leinster players in the Irish U20s [loosehead Jack Boyle] is currently in the Leinster Academy. So he is a step ahead of the other Leinster players in the U20s side. He has been training with the pros for 7-8 months.

When I was a little bit more ITK [up to about three years ago], the sub academy was largely concerned with S&C, individual work-ons and professional habits ... it wasn't like a team who went out and trained together. It may have changed somewhat in the intervening years, I don't know. It probably has. They were always based in Donnybrook [Leinster's old stadium] and now they have a specialised facility there.

For the most part, guys who are in the sub-academy will train rugby with their AIL teams, i.e. train in the evenings. Leinster [the organisation] funnel them towards teams in Div 1A, although some players might stick with a club in Div 1B with which they have a family association or prior history. There are currently five Leinster-based clubs in 1A - Clontarf, Lansdowne, Terenure and the two university clubs, UCD and TCD. There are five in 1B as well – Old Wesley, St Marys, Old Belvedere, Naas [in Kildare] and Navan [in Meath].

A player like Aitzol Arenzana King, who came through the Leinster Talent Identification Programme [TIP] via his club Balbriggan RFC [who are a junior club, i.e. not in one of the five AIL divisions] will move to an AIL 1A team: in his case, Clontarf. Charlie Tector started playing rugby in Wexford with Enniscorthy RFC, went to boarding school in Kilkenny College where he played on five cup teams – the stuff of schoolboy legends! – and moved to Lansdowne RFC when he left school. So for him, the route was Wexford [Enniscorthy RFC] as a kid, Kilkenny [Kilkenny College] as a teenager, Dublin [Lansdowne FC] as an U20.

For a lot of the Leinster forwards in the team, it is simpler: a big rugby school in Dublin and straight to UCD. So Boyle and O'Tighernigh were St Michaels College -> UCD; McGuire, Morrissey and Culhane were Blackrock College -> UCD. Some guys will play for TCD if that's where they go to college.

The Leinster Academy is a tighter sieve than the Irish U20s; not every Leinster player who plays regularly in the U20 Six Nations will make it into the academy. It's seen as a cut-off point if you don't make it in after the U20s, but there's no hard and fast rule. For example, Rob Russell [currently in Year 1 of our academy] entered the academy as a 22 year old.

[dropkick]

I wonder will Mullins sign with a province. He looked class throughout.

[Lock9541]

I wonder will Mullins sign with a province. He looked class throughout.

He probably won’t. That’s why I don’t like seeing the IQ rugby players playing for the u20s because they’re just using us. They should only be allowed to play if they’re with a province. Look at Dan Kelly he’s an example of a player that used us. Funny how someone like Mullins is allowed to play but a player like Karl Martin who grew up in Ireland isn’t. Both aren’t with a province but a player who grew up in England and is in Bristol academy is allowed to play for us.

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder will Mullins sign with a province. He looked class throughout.

He probably won’t. That’s why I don’t like seeing the IQ rugby players playing for the u20s because they’re just using us. They should only be allowed to play if they’re with a province. Look at Dan Kelly he’s an example of a player that used us. Funny how someone like Mullins is allowed to play but a player like Karl Martin who grew up in Ireland isn’t. Both aren’t with a province but a player who grew up in England and is in Bristol academy is allowed to play for us.

Martin chose to leave the irish system when he did that he gave up the chance to play for ireland u20.

Ireland are trying to attract players like Kelly and Mullins to join a province, they use the irish 20's to do that.

Different scenarios.

[Laighin Break]

I wonder will Mullins sign with a province. He looked class throughout.

He probably won’t. That’s why I don’t like seeing the IQ rugby players playing for the u20s because they’re just using us. They should only be allowed to play if they’re with a province. Look at Dan Kelly he’s an example of a player that used us. Funny how someone like Mullins is allowed to play but a player like Karl Martin who grew up in Ireland isn’t. Both aren’t with a province but a player who grew up in England and is in Bristol academy is allowed to play for us.

Martin chose to leave the irish system when he did that he gave up the chance to play for ireland u20.

Ireland are trying to attract players like Kelly and Mullins to join a province, they use the irish 20's to do that.

Different scenarios.

I'd imagine a player like Martin is more likely to return to play in Ireland though (in a couple of years) than a player like Mullins

[sunshiner1]

Chay Mullins has been named in the Irish Sevens squad. Does this mean he is now ineligible for other countries when capped for has that rule changed?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That must pretty much confirm that he’s moving here? You couldn’t train with the 7’s team if you lived abroad.

[sunshiner1]

Just saw a picture Ihechi Oji who looks like a young Bastareaud and is a winger too. In the pictures he's played for both Munster and Leinster. Is he a part of our system or is he with Munster? Would people rate him?

https://twitter.com/frontrow1to3/status ... 277893132

[Oldschoolsocks]

Just saw a picture Ihechi Oji who looks like a young Bastareaud and is a winger too. In the pictures he's played for both Munster and Leinster. Is he a part of our system or is he with Munster? Would people rate him?

https://twitter.com/frontrow1to3/status ... 277893132

listed here as:Ihechi Oji (CC Roscrea/Munster), he looks pretty impressive in the video on twitter. That's all I know about him.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/12/09/th ... ber-camps/

[ormond lad]

Just saw a picture Ihechi Oji who looks like a young Bastareaud and is a winger too. In the pictures he's played for both Munster and Leinster. Is he a part of our system or is he with Munster? Would people rate him?

https://twitter.com/frontrow1to3/status ... 277893132

When did he play with Leinster. He played Munster u18 clubs through his club Carrigaline, Douglas-Carrigaline and then moved to CCR

[mildlyinterested]

Just saw a picture Ihechi Oji who looks like a young Bastareaud and is a winger too. In the pictures he's played for both Munster and Leinster. Is he a part of our system or is he with Munster? Would people rate him?

https://twitter.com/frontrow1to3/status ... 277893132

Munster came through carrigaline/douglas in cork before getting a scholarship with Roscrea.

has never played for Leinster.

[sunshiner1]

Think I got him mixed up with another player. Thanks for the information. One to look out for.

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland u20 will play 3 games in the summer, against England, France and South Africa.

https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/loca ... um=twitter

[mildlyinterested]

Richie Murphy’s Ireland Under-20 squad that won a Grand Slam in the recent Six Nations Championship are set to play a further four games in Italy next month in a tournament that will take the place of the Junior World Championship – it will return next year having last been played in 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic – as a competitive outlet.

South Africa and Georgia will join Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy with each of the countries playing three pool games and a crossover match. The details of the tournament are expected to be announced during the week, but it appears that Ireland will face France, England, and South Africa in their three matches.

While Ireland will take most of the squad that won all five games in the Six Nations, they will also include several Under-19 internationals with a view to giving a handful of highly rated younger players some experience at this level ahead of next season. The Ireland Under-19 team under Kieran Hallett drew 1-1 in a two-match series against France played in Belfast and Dublin last month.

Murphy’s side will definitely be without wing Chay Mullins, who will be with James Topping’s Men’s Sevens squad during the summer.