Person: H Keenan

Leinster young guns take a step towards top prize

There was some degree of befuddlement in UCD earlier this week when Ross Byrne and Ross Molony found themselves being quizzed on the possibility of featuring in a Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2023.

Fri, 03 Nov, 2017

Gavin Coombes looks set for big welcome from West Cork fans

The selection of up-and-coming Skibbereen flanker Gavin Coombes should ensure increased local interest in tonight’s B&I Cup clash between Munster A and Doncaster Knights at Bandon RFC (7pm).

Fri, 13 Jan, 2017

The Ireland team and management celebrate winning 5/11/2016

Peter Jackson: Ireland beating New Zealand in the style they did is a staggering achievement

In 80 wondrous minutes on the shore of Lake Michigan, Ireland scored more tries against the All Blacks than in the first 80 years of the last century.

Mon, 07 Nov, 2016

Ireland v England - 2016 Rugby Union Under 20's World Championship - Final - AJ Bell Stadium

England’s big-time know-how too much for brave Ireland

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.

Mon, 27 Jun, 2016

Ireland must ignore high stakes of World U20 Championship final

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.

Sat, 25 Jun, 2016

World Championship history beckons for Ireland U20s

Ireland 37 Argentina 7: Irish coach Nigel Carolan says they will treat next Saturday’s World Rugby U-20 Championship final in much the same way as they have approached every other game in the tournament and try not to dwell on the significance of their appearance.

Tue, 21 Jun, 2016

Nigel Carolan’s men chase more history against Pumas at World Rugby U20 Championship

Nigel Carolan’s Irish side will bid to create their own bit of history today when they take on Argentina at Manchester Academy Stadium in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Mon, 20 Jun, 2016

Ireland power into World U-20 semi-finals

Ireland U20s 35 Georgia U20s 7: The Etihad Stadium was rocking to 51,000 fans last night as Manchester favourites The Stone Roses blasted out, but 200 metres away it was the Fields of Athenry which heard in the evening sunshine as Ireland celebrated getting to the World Rugby U-20 Championship semi-finals.

Thu, 16 Jun, 2016

Pack drives Ireland U20s to first All Black scalp

Ireland 33 New Zealand 24: As winger Malo Tuitama raced in for his second try to cut the gap to six points with as many minutes remaining, up on the press bench we started preparing another hard luck story for Irish rugby against New Zealand.

Mon, 13 Jun, 2016

Ireland U20s dig deep to stun fancied Wales

Wales U20s 25 Ireland U20s 26: These underage tournaments are supposed to be more about character-forming than winning but Ireland managed to achieve both aims in an astonishing start to the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Wed, 08 Jun, 2016

Boost for Ireland U20s with clean bill of health

Ireland will be bidding to prevent a fourth successive loss at this level when they take on Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales in the opening game of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Manchester today (5.30pm).

Tue, 07 Jun, 2016

Donnacha Ryan back on duty for Munster after head injury comeback

Munster A 26 - Ireland U20s 24

Fri, 20 May, 2016

Ragged display but Ireland U20s sign off with third victory

Ireland 26 Scotland 18: Despite a ragged performance Ireland signed off on their championship campaign with a win over Scotland thanks to a bit of luck and a dominant second-half.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Nigel Carolan’s call on his team to ‘respect ball’

Nigel Carolan insists his Irish U20 side must show the ball “more respect” if they are to finish their Six Nations campaign with a win over Scotland in Donnybrook tonight (7.35pm).

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Close call as Ireland U20s dig deep for victory

Ireland 19 Italy 13: Fitful, imprecise and, for large periods, distinctly unimpressive.

Sat, 12 Mar, 2016

Nigel Carolan wary of dangerous Azzurri

Joe Schmidt’s side may still seek a first win of the campaign, but it is hard not to look at their U20 counterparts and suspect that their corner has already been turned.

Fri, 11 Mar, 2016

Falcons starlet Connon delighted to play his part in green

Brett Connon is used to the sound of Callum Chick’s voice. Clubmates at Newcastle Falcons, the pair are housemates as well.

Thu, 10 Mar, 2016

Nigel Carolan’s Ireland heroes stage amazing recovery

England 20 Ireland 26: Nigel Carolan’s U-20 side staged a remarkable comeback to defeat England in Newcastle last night.

Sat, 27 Feb, 2016

Peter Claffey confident Ireland U20s can turn fortunes around against England

Peter Claffey didn’t offer any excuses as he looked ahead to tonight’s meeting of the English and Irish U20s on the 4G pitch at Newcastle’s Kingston Park.

Fri, 26 Feb, 2016

Four changes as U20 boss Nigel Carolan bids to revive flagging Irish fortunes

Ireland coach Nigel Carolan has made four changes to his U20 side for tomorrow night’s clash with England in Newcastle (Sky Sports 3, 6pm).

Thu, 25 Feb, 2016

France U20s break Irish resistance

France 34 Ireland 13: First-half tries from Peter Claffey and James Ryan weren’t enough to secure Ireland’s first win in five Six Nations outings, as the French were too good at Narbonne.

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

Colossus Andrew Porter about far more than just raw power

If you watched Ireland’s U20s take on Wales in Dublin last Friday evening then chances are that the sheer size of the Leinster loosehead prop Andrew Porter stood out every bit as much as the abandon with which Nigel Carolan’s offloading side played.

Thu, 11 Feb, 2016

Ireland U20s foiled in frenetic battle

Ireland 24 Wales 35: A disappointing opening to the U20s Six Nations campaign for Ireland but for those home supporters present, there was the considerable consolation of watching a cracking contest, sprinkled with a magnificent seven tries and some exhilarating rugby.

Sat, 06 Feb, 2016

Nigel Carolan names powerful Irish U20 side for daunting clash with Wales