7 Munster Players In Ireland U20 Squad

5th February 2026 By The Editor

James O’Leary starts at inside centre for the Ireland U20s. Inpho

Seven Munster players have been named in the Ireland U20 squad for Saturday’s 6 Nations opener against France at Stade Aime Giral in Perpignan (8pm Irish time, live on the RTÉ News Channel).

Seven Munster players are included with centre James O’Leary, out-half Tom Wood, scrum-half Christopher Barrett and flanker Billy Hayes all starting. Prop Christian Foley, lock Joe Finn and out-half Charlie O’Shea are included among the replacements.

UCC centre O’Leary is a former PBC student and Cork Constitution clubman who has started the last three Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup finals, earning winners’ medals in 2023 and 2024.

Garryowen out-half Wood joined the Munster Rugby Academy in the summer made his Munster debut against Glasgow Warriors last week. He lined out for the Ireland U20s last season and came up through the ranks at Ballina-Killaloe RFC and St Munchin’s College.

UCC scrum-half Barrett is a former CBC student and Cork Constitution clubman who helped his school to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title last season having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.

Garryowen flanker Billy Hayes started out at Roscrea RFC and played his schools rugby with Cistercian College Roscrea. He featured for Munster A in the draw with Leinster A in December.

Young Munster prop Christian Foley is from Abbeyfeale RFC and has been playing in Division 1A of the Energia AIL over recent seasons. He was also involved with the Ireland U20s last year.

Joe Finn is a former Cistercian College Roscrea student who started out at Ballina-Killaloe RFC and has already featured for Munster A.

UCC’s Charlie O’Shea helped CBC to the Senior Cup title last season having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.

Sami Bishti captains the side as Ireland open their 2026 Championship at Stade Aime Giral.

Noah Byrne, Derry Moloney and Daniel Ryan start in the Ireland back three, with James O’Leary partnering Johnny O’Sullivan in midfield and Christopher Barrett and Tom Wood in the half-backs.

In the pack, Max Doyle, Rian Handley and captain Bishti are in the front row, while Dylan McNeice and Donnacha McGuire are named in the engine room. Josh Neill is selected at blindside flanker, Billy Hayes at openside and Diarmaid O’Connell packs down at number eight.

On the bench, Duinn McGuire, Christian Foley, Blake McClean, Joe Finn and Ben Blaney provide the forward replacements, with backs Fergus Callington, Charlie O’Shea and Ethan Black complete the Ireland Match Day Squad.

Ireland U20s

15. Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
13. Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
12. James O’Leary (UCC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster)

1. Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster)(captain)
4. Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
7. Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster)
8. Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Replacements:
16. Duinn Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
20. Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
21. Fergus Callington (Durham University/IQ Rugby)
22. Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Ethan Black (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster).