Matthew Nelson’s late equaliser against Italy was enough to secure Ireland’s future in the top tier of the Eurohockey U18 Youths Championship with a 2-2 draw.

Ireland failed to challenge a classy Spanish side in the Boys U18 Eurohockey Championship as they were whitewashed 5-0 yesterday at Garryduff. The hosts now face Italy today in a must-win clash.

England 45 Ireland 21: Twenty-one points was enough to win each of the two previous World Rugby U20 Championship finals and only twice has a team scored more than that and lost, but you got the impression at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday evening that no matter what Ireland scored, England would nab more.

Coach Nigel Carolan has urged his men to play the game and not the occasion when they take on England this evening (7pm) in the World Rugby U20 Championship at the AJ Bell Stadium in Greater Manchester.