UCD FLANKER DAN LEAVY will captain Ireland’s U20s when their Six Nations campaign begins later this month.
Coach Mike Ruddock today named a 28-man squad for the tournament which gets underway at home to Scotland in Dubarry Park on 31 January.
Peter Dooley and Peadar Timmins are the only players to be retained from last year’s panel. Both players also featured at the U20 World Cup last summer as did Leavy, Jack O’Donoghue, Adam Byrne and Alex Wootton.
Harrison Brewer, the son of former All Black back-row Mike Brewer, has also been named in the squad. The centre was one of the stars of last season’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup for Terenure.
Ireland squad for U20 Six Nations
Max Abbott (Cork Constitution FC / Munster), Harrison Brewer (Terenure College RFC / Leinster), Rory Burke (Cork Constitution FC / Munster), David Busby (QUB RFC / Ulster), Ross Byrne (UCD RFC / Leinster), Adam Byrne (UCD RFC / Leinster), Jack Cullen (Bruff RFC / Munster), William Dardis (UCD RFC / Leinster), Shane Delahunt (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Peter Dooley (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Dan Goggin (Young Munster RFC / Munster), Oisin Heffernan (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Dan Leavy (captain, UCD RFC / Leinster), Nick McCarthy (UCD RFC / Leinster), Conor McKeon (Lansdowne FC / Leinster), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers RFC / Connacht), Ross Molony (UCD RFC / Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Galwegians RFC / Connacht), Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians RFC / Munster), Gary Ringrose (UCD RFC / Leinster), Peter Robb (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster), Peadar Timmins (UCD RFC / Leinster), Jacob Walshe (Buccaneers RFC / Connacht), Alex Wootton (Garryowen / Munster).
U20 Six Nations fixtures
- 31 January — Ireland v Scotland (Dubarry Park, 7.05pm)
- 7 February — Ireland v Wales (Dubarry Park, 7.35pm)
- 22 February — England v Ireland (Franklin’s Gardens, 6.15pm)
- 7 March — Ireland v Italy (Dubarry Park, 7.05pm)
- 14 March — France v Ireland (Maurice Trelut, 8.55pm local)
Do you have to be a member of lansdowne to get a game?
Nothing against Harrison Brewer as he’s a fine young player but to call him one of the stars of last years Leinster Schools Senior Cup is a stretch. He was part of the Terenure team that were knocked out of the competition at the quarter final stage by Cistercian College Roscrea, a big upset on the day. In reality he is only being name checked because of his fathers playing career.
Best of luck to all who were called up and here’s hoping that the team give us as much viewing pleasure as last year’s did.
He might not have been one of the stars of last years senior cup (not all his fault) but to say he is being name checked because of his dad is ridiculous. I think you might eat those words!
As I said, he’s a fine player but I don’t think that if, for example, his Dad was a painter/decorator from Mullingar that it would have been mentioned in the article.
Nobody would be happier than me if he plays a key part in a championship winning team.
The same bull was spouted about ruddock, earls and Fitzgerald. Give the kid a break
Leavy will be the next great Irish 7. Utter class. Lots of potential in that squad.
Watched O’Brien play for roscrea twice. Serious player.
Ruddock must shop in the same opticians as Saint Joe.
Simply more players playing fame in Leinster giving a far bigger choice. Leinster were very dominant at underage last year too.
Then who from the other provinces would you have in, you know, in the interest of backing up your comment? Or are you just talking through arse?
Saint Joe?