8 Munster Players In Ireland U20s Squad To Face England

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

Following last week’s win over Italy at Virgin Media Park, Ireland travel to Bath for their Round 3 clash on Friday night.

Buy tickets for the upcoming home games against Wales and Scotland at Virgin Media Park here.

Eight Munster players are included with centres Rob Carney and James O’Leary, out-half Tom Wood, scrum-half Christopher Barrett, lock Joe Finn and flanker Billy Hayes all starting. Prop Christian Foley 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 lock/flanker Joe Finn is a former Cistercian College Roscrea student who started out at Ballina-Killaloe RFC and has already featured for Munster A.

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.

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.

Browne has named an unchanged backline, with Noah Byrne, Derry Moloney and Daniel Ryan continuing in Ireland’s back three as James O’Leary and Rob Carney start in midfield. Scrum-half Christopher Barrett once again partners Tom Wood in the half-backs.

In the pack, Max Doyle, Lee Fitzpatrick and captain Sami Bishti make up the front row, as Joe Finn and Donnacha McGuire pack down in the second row, with Josh Neill – last week’s PwC Player of the Match – joining Billy Hayes and Diarmaid O’Connell in the back row.

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

Friday night’s match is live on Virgin Media Two and BBC iPlayer.

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. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
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. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Sean Walsh (MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster)
20. Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
21. James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
22. Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster).