8 Munster Players In Ireland U20s Squad

11th February 2026 By The Editor

Christopher Barrett starts at scrum-half after scoring two tries away to France last week.

Head Coach Andrew Browne has named the Ireland U20s Match Day Squad, sponsored by PwC, for Friday night’s U20s Six Nations clash against Italy at Virgin Media Park (Kick-off 7.45pm, live on RTÉ2).

After opening their Championship in France last week, Ireland U20s – captained by Sami Bishti – return home to Cork aiming for their first win of the campaign.

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

Cashel RFC outside centre Rob Carney has made 10 appearances for his club at senior level this season. Carney started out at Roscrea RFC and played his schools rugby with Cistercian College Roscrea, lining out for the Munster U19s in 2024.

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

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.

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.

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

Noah Byrne, Derry Moloney and Daniel Ryan start in Ireland’s back three, with James O’Leary partnering Rob Carney in midfield. Christopher Barrett and Tom Wood continue in the half-backs at scrum-half and out-half respectively.

In the pack, Max Doyle, Lee Fitzpatrick and Sami Bishti are in the front row, with Dylan McNeice and Donnacha McGuire in the engine room. Joe Finn is selected at blindside flanker, Josh Neill switches to openside and Diarmaid O’Connell completes the back row at number eight.

On the bench, Rian Handley, Christian Foley, Blake McClean, Ben Blaney, Billy Hayes, James O’Dwyer, Charlie O’Shea and Johnny O’Sullivan complete Ireland’s Match Day Squad.

Ireland U20s

15. Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
13. Rob Carney (Cashel RFC/Munster)
12. James O’Leary (UCC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster)
1. Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster)(captain)
4. Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
7. Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
8. Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Replacements:
16. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
20. Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster)
21. James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
22. Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster).