Ireland Under-20 2014-2015

[goreyguy]

First camp is in a few weeks.

A lot of players returning who have some 6 nations and JWC experience.

Oisin Heffernan(TH Prop)
Sean McNulty(Hooker)
Josh Murphy(Backrow/Lock)
Rory Moloney(Backrow)
Nick McCarthy(Scrumhalf)
Jack Cullen(Scrumhalf)
Ross Byrne(Outhalf)
Harrison Brewer(Centre)
Garry Ringrose(Centre)
Billy Dardis(Fullback)
Ciaran Gaffney(Wing)

[dropkick]

The backline could be Irelands strongest ever at this age group and should be a match for any side. Theres even a chance some of last seasons backs might not get selected. The key for Ireland is the forwards.

[cormac]

Ruddock has stepped down from the coaching role. Nigel Carolan of Connacht replaces him.

[Armchair]

Ruddock has stepped down from the coaching role. Nigel Carolan of Connacht replaces him.

Big news, I wonder how many Connacht lads will start? Ruddock leaves us in good shape. With the amount of lads returning and last years 4th place finish in JWC not a job I would like to be stepping into as pressure will be on to improve on results. Quiet ironic that a Dublin based coach had home games in a Connacht club and now a Connacht based coach will have home games in a Dublin club

[Morf]

Everything I've heard about Carolan is good.

Very highly regarded. Hope it's a great appointment for all parties.

[cormac]

Anyone know why this year's U-20 game against England is being played in Donnybrook rather than Athlone?

[Vamos los azules]

Anyone know why this year's U-20 game against England is being played in Donnybrook rather than Athlone?

Was going to ask the same question. Not complaining mind you because Donnybrook suits me much better.

Guaranteed a good pitch surface?
Suits the senior coaches better if they want to go and check out the youngsters?
Might pick up more travelling support and therefore gate money if it is in Dublin than down the country?

[cormac]

Anyone know why this year's U-20 game against England is being played in Donnybrook rather than Athlone?

Was going to ask the same question. Not complaining mind you because Donnybrook suits me much better.

Guaranteed a good pitch surface?
Suits the senior coaches better if they want to go and check out the youngsters?
Might pick up more travelling support and therefore gate money if it is in Dublin than down the country?

Likewise I'd be very tempted to rock along to the game with it being in Donnybrook. Shame it's on at the same time as our visit to the Ospreys though.

The France game is on in Dubarry Park and with the senior England game on the Sunday not sure how many will already be in Dublin on the Friday evening.

[goreyguy]

squad being announced this week I believe.

[cormac]

An extended squad of 30 players has been named for the Ireland Under-20s ahead of their 2015 RBS U-20 6 Nations campaign.TweetEight players named in the squad have previous 6 nations experience, having played in the tournament last year, Harrison Brewer, Ross Byrne, Jack Cullen, Oisin Heffernan, Nick McCarthy, Sean McNulty, Rory Moloney and Garry Ringrose in addition, a further three players played in the 2014 Junior World Championship, Billy Dardis, Ciaran Gaffney and Josh Murphy.

The side will be captained by Leinster Academy scrum-half Nick McCarthy.

Speaking ahead of the Tournament, Head Coach Nigel Carolan said:

"The squad sees a great mixture of new faces and those with experience at this level from last season. We have been really impressed by the attitude of the players, both on and off the field. Their enthusiasm and attention to detail has been second to none.

"The warm up games against the provincial development sides over Christmas have provided the opportunity to develop our game and confirm the potential within our player group.

"We are looking forward to getting the campaign underway with our opening game away to Italy."

Ireland have two home games this year, against France in Dubarry Park, Athlone on Friday, 13th February, and they will play their English counterparts in Donnybrook stadium on Friday 28th February, the first time the U20s have played in the capital since 2005.

In total their are 14 Leinster players in the extended 30-man squad

Ireland U-20 Squad, RBS 6 Nations 2015

Samuel Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Harrison Brewer (Terenure/ Leinster)*
Ross Byrne (UCD RFC/ Leinster)*
Joey Carbery (UCD/ Leinster)
Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Jack Cullen (Shannon /Munster)*
Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster) *
Lorcan Dow (Queens/Ulster)
Jack Dwan (Leinster)
Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/ Munster)
Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)*
Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster)
Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
Zac McCall (Queens University/Ulster)
Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)*
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)*
Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster) *
David O'Connor (St. Mary's/Leinster)
Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/Connacht)
Conor Oliver (St. Mary's/Leinster)
Greg O'Shea (Shannon/Munster)
Jack Owens (Queens University/Ulster)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)*
Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jacob Stockdale (Queens University/Ulster)
Alexander Thompson (Queens University/Ulster)
Nick Timoney (St. Mary's/Leinster)

*Denotes previously capped at this level

[goreyguy]

1. Loughman
2. McNulty
3. Heffernan
4. Thomspon
5. Romaine
6. Murphy
7. Moloney
8. Dow
9. McCarthy
10. Bryne
11. Stockdale
12. Brewer
13. Ringrose
14. Gaffney
15. Dardis
16. McCall
17. Lagan
18. O'Donnell
19. O'Connor
20. Timoney
21. Cullen
22. Cleary
23. Owens

[LeRouxIsPHat]

On paper that's a brilliant squad, especially the backs.

[dropkick]

With that backline, if the pack can compete with the likes of England then Ireland should be very hard to beat.

[goreyguy]

think pack will struggle, weakest backrow in awhile IMO.

[Donny B.]

Positional Breakdown

Props: Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster), Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/Connacht), Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)*, Jeremy Lougman (UCD/Leinster)
Hookers: Zac McCall (Queens University/Ulster), Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)*
Locks: Jack Dwan (Leinster), Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)*, David O’Connor (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht), Alexander Thompson (Queens University/Ulster)
Back rows: Lorcan Dow (Queens/Ulster), Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)*, Conor Oliver (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Half-backs: Jack Cullen (Shannon /Munster)*, Nicolas McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)*, Ross Byrne (UCD RFC/ Leinster)*, Joey Carbery (UCD/ Leinster)
Centres: Samuel Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Harrison Brewer (Terenure/ Leinster)*, Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne / Leinster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)*, Jacob Stockdale (Queens University/Ulster)
Back threes: Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)*, Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/ Munster), Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)*, Greg O’Shea (Shannon/Munster), Jack Owens (Queens University/Ulster).

[blockhead]

Nigel Carolan: There is no agenda against Munster players
rugby
Cian Tracey

Published 22/01/2015 | 02:30

Newly appointed Ireland U20s coach Nigel Carolan insists that the strength of the four provinces' academies made the competition fierce to make his 30-man squad for next month's Six Nations.


The Connacht academy director who will perform both roles takes over the position from Mike Ruddock.

He has retained eight players from last year's squad and has named Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy as captain.

There are notably just four Munster players selected and Carolan admits that the province will be "disappointed" with such a low representation.

"This selection was made in conjunction with Peter Malone (Munster's elite player development manager).

"We try to pick the best guys for Irish rugby. There has been no agenda there," he said. "There were close calls. Some people will feel hard done by but when you look at the competition in the squad it is hard to argue with who is in there.

Historically

"For a national team it is really important that you have representation from all four sides. Historically it has maybe been weighted heavily towards Leinster with the populace but Munster will be disappointed at the moment.

"But, of the seven or eight guys who got phone calls (to say they hadn't been included) on Monday, they (Munster) have got guys who are very close to this squad and are only actually an injury away from making it.

"Selection is made purely on perception and we are relying mainly on feedback," he added.

The likes of Ross Byrne, Rory Moloney and highly-rated centre Garry Ringrose are all included in the squad for their second Six Nations campaign, which begins in Italy on February 6.

Ireland are looking to build on their best ever fourth place finish at last year's Junior World Cup and Carolan maintained that the strength of Irish under-age rugby is reflected in the squad that he has named.

"I think it's testament to the academy programmes that there is strength in depth and there is competition for places.

"We'll achieve nothing unless there's competition and guys are pushed. That goes right across the board and up to the national team - competition is king."

[simonokeeffe]

bit stupid he even has to say that, whatever about a Leinster based coach in a Leinster dominated squad but from a Connacht man

[Eristic]

What does he mean by
"Selection is made purely on perception and we are relying mainly on feedback,"

I hope he goes well.
For a man who had little access to the players Ruddock seemed to have them peaking just in time for the JWC, I hope Carolan gets them playing with the same confidence and creativity.

[hugonaut]

What does he mean by
"Selection is made purely on perception and we are relying mainly on feedback,"

I don't quite know. It's not the most definite of phrases, is it? I assume that the first part [selection on perception] means that they are going on what they see, rather than on reputation, or background, or provincial bias. Not at all sure what he means by the second part.

[johng]

What does he mean by
"Selection is made purely on perception and we are relying mainly on feedback,"

I don't quite know. It's not the most definite of phrases, is it? I assume that the first part [selection on perception] means that they are going on what they see, rather than on reputation, or background, or provincial bias. Not at all sure what he means by the second part.

Presuming he means they are dependent on "feedback" from Academy coaches from the provinces and perhaps AIL coaches who see the guys in training rather than rely on "perception" that the U20s coaching group may have, based on less exposure to the players. No?