Irish Under-20's 2023

I thought I’d put together as definitive a pool as possible for next year’s u20. I sourced from the NTS list (everyone just finished last year of school), anyone eligible in an academy, anyone called up to the u19 camp this last Christmas, and anyone who played in japan/france games this year. I’ve almost certainly made mistakes so corrections welcome.

The labels are self explanatory. NTS is basically the sub academy. Anyone without any label was called into a camp but isn’t on an NTS list. However that list came out last October so some of those guys or all of them might now be on there in actuality.

TH Prop

• Bishop - IQ 
• Calvey - Munster (u19) (NTS)
• Deay - Leinster
• Longstaff - Ulster (NTS)
• Mullan - Leinster (u19) (NTS)
• Sparrow - Leinster (NTS)

LH Prop

• Boyd - Ulster (Acad) 
• Fitzgerald - Munster (u19) (NTS)
• Hopkins - Connacht (NTS)
• Howard - Leinster 
• O Riordan - Leinster 

Hooker

• D Sheahan - Munster (NTS)
• Smyth - Leinster (NTS)
• Solomon - Ulster (Acad) 
• Walker - Ulster/IQ (Acad) 

Lock

• Colreavy - Leinster
• Gleeson - IQ
• Hopes - Ulster (Acad) 
• McKillop - Ulster (NTS)
• K Novak - Munster (NTS)
• D Novak - Munster (NTS)
• O Connell - Munster (Acad)
• O Connor - Leinster 
• O Loughlin - Leinster 
• Spicer - Leinster (u19) (NTS)

Back Row

• Bamber - Connacht (u19) (NTS)
• Brigg - Ulster (Acad) 
• Edogbo - Munster (NTS)
• Flynn - Connacht (NTS)
• Gleeson - Munster  (Acad) 
• Lee - Ulster 
• Molloy - Connacht (NTS)
• Murphy - Munster (u19) (NTS)
• J Sheahan - Munster (NTS)
• Stevens - Ulster (Acad)
• Usanov - Leinster (u19) (NTS)
• Ward - Ulster (NTS)
• Whelan - Leinster 
• Wilson - Leinster 

9

• Armstrong - Ulster (u19) (NTS)
• Brophy - Leinster (NTS)
• Coffey - Leinster (NTS)
• Farthing - Connacht (u19) (NTS)
• O’ Riordan - Munster (NTS)

10 

• Hicks - Munster (Acad) u19 
• Murphy - Leinster (NTS)
• Naughton - Leinster (NTS)

Centre

• Berman - Leinster (NTS)
• De Klerk - Leinster 
• Ellerby - Ulster (NTS)
• Gavin - Connacht (NTS)
• Kritzinger - Leinster (NTS)
• Larke - Leinster (NTS)
• O Donovan - Munster (u19) (NTS)
• Sheridan - Leinster 

Back 3 

• Colbert - Leinster 
• Condon - Munster 
• Farrell - Leinster u19 (NTS)
• Fenelon - Leinster (NTS)
• Fox - Connacht 
• Graham - Ulster (Acad)
• Grant - Connacht (u19) (NTS)
• Kenny - Ulster (Acad) 
• Kiely - Munster (NTS)
• McFarlane - Ulster (Acad) 
• McLaughlin - Leinster (NTS)
• O’ Connor - Munster (Acad) 
• O’ Dwyer - Munster (u19) (NTS)
• Pepper - Munster 
• Treacy - Leinster 

Back three and backrow look very strong, halfbacks look like a big step down on what we had this year. I hope Japan u19s were an unusually strong outlier year for them and caught a cold ireland with limited time and cohesion in those couple games.

I’m interested in seeing Hicks. In the academy at 18 from a club background is some going. It’s actually the u19s i’m most interested in as well as the ulster guys. Murphy from Munster, the back row and Farrell from Leinster, the winger, are both exciting players apparently.

For Ulster, we have 10 academy players by my count eligible for this team. I would expect all but maybe walker to make it. I’d expect McKillop and Longstaff as well. That would be close to our highest representation in years.

Behind Sparrow and Mullan? yea possibly. But three THs get in the squad.

I think Hopes starts with McConnell. Its hard so say who starts but just getting 9-12 in a 33 man squad would be good.

Obviously things can change, but Deay isn’t on the NTS list and Mullan and Sparrow are. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything. And i guess the u19 camp last december is closer than the NTS list to now.

You are probably right though.

As far as I know there is a lot of central input into who does or doesn’t get into an academy. I’ve always thought that academy inclusion is basically a guaruntee of inclusion as Murphy himself is involved to some extent with everything from the NTS to academy decisions. Academy contracts are irfu contracts not provincial. I also can’t really remember a fit academy player who didn’t make the u20s.

However, it was a really big academy class so its a good test of the theory.

Ronan Foxe wasn't on the published NTS list either and ended up favoured over an academy player. Deay wouldn't have started two games if he wasn't in the coaches thinking, I imagine there is constant re-assessment of players throughout the year.

Longstaff did start one of the game against france. Can’t find the team sheet for the other one.

You feel very strongly about Deay and honestly i have no real idea so im happy to pencil him in.

The one thing i would say is that they don’t blend in u18s (u19s next year) usually until next year so its possible that mullan and calvey have something to say.

I thought the other big unit in the Belvo 2022 schools cup team in the 2nd row was actually a better player than Spicer, Eddie Rees I think it was who had a few games in the AIL for Clontarf last year, but I don't think he got picked up by any of the academys

I don't feel any particular way about him tbh, only seen two games. Selfishly, I hope Longstaff makes it because we are in dire need of serviceable props coming through and we've just taken in two props who didn't play for Ireland u20's into the academy.

There was an Academy vs. AIL Select yesterday at Gibson Park - anybody any ideas how it all went?

Didn't know realise most of that, thanks. Completely missed it last year.

Limerick's a five hour drive from me so no chance of making it for age-grade games. Wouldn't be so bad if they held the tournament in one place and rotated the location round the provinces, but even then I'd get watching it once every four years. I'd rather keep this format, then I'd get to see two games every year at least, but I suppose it's more about what works best for the kids.

I feel like Wilson will be good but yea we need more. I have highish hopes for the whole u19 contingent of this intake. But if Boyd could work out as well that would be massive.

If Spicer is eligible, i’d def have him in the squad at least for development. That size is rare.

Yea I was thinking that. I remember watching a youtube video they released a few years ago which showed the kids getting group lectures and video sessions, so in a way it's sort of their first taste of professionalism. They probably get to interact with other squads more which is a plus.

Having it all together as an event might grab a bit more local interest as well. They seem to love playing at Newforge and that was before the new pitch was added but I much prefer Queens where you can actually get a decent view.

When he has a frame like that it is almost worth rolling the dice on him and getting him high-level coaching. At 17 he looks to be bigger than any of our seniors currently.

Ah! Might go then