A year which began with a frustrating hamstring injury which sidelined him for four months has taken a massive upward swing for newly appointed Irish U20 captain Caelan Doris.

England 48 - Ireland 15: Ireland capitulated in the second-half as their U20 Six Nations finished in disappointing fashion at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Thousands of Irish kids could relate to Harry Byrne’s youthful admiration of Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara but Ireland’s U20s out-half had another role model to emulate much closer to home.

There are nine new caps in the Ireland Under-20 team for their Six Nations opener against France on Friday.

Eddie O’Sullivan has named a squad split between youth and experience for his first Test as USA Eagles head coach later this month.

THE curtain comes down on a successful IRB under 19 World Championship in Belfast today, with the host nation bidding to finish on a positive note when they face Scotland in the 9th Place Play-Off Final at Ravenhill (3pm).

Ireland coach Charlie McAleese has rung the changes once more to the Ireland U19 team that will play Scotland in the ninth place playoff in the U19 IRB U19 World Championship tomorrow in Ravenhill.

A TOURNAMENT that started so promisingly for Ireland U19s now sees the hosts fighting for respectability.

RAVENHILL will be close to capacity tonight for Ireland’s win-or-bust final pool clash with South Africa in the IRB World U-19 Championship.