The Ireland Under-20s paid the price for a nightmare first quarter during which they conceded 26 unanswered points, a sturdy platform on which New Zealand secured a 40-17 victory in today's 7th-8th place play-off at the World Rugby U-20 Championship.

Tom Willis’ last-minute try ruined the Ireland Under-20s’ final quarter fightback as England won a titanic play-off 30-23 in awful underfoot conditions in Rosario.

Tom Willis’ last-minute try ruined the Ireland Under-20s’ final quarter fight-back as England won a titanic World Rugby U-20 Championship play-off 30-23 in awful underfoot conditions in Rosario.

The five-try display means that the Irish did all they can to stay in the hunt but must now await the results of France v Argentina (5pm) and South Africa v New Zealand games this evening.

Towering Munster Academy lock Thomas Ahern will make his Ireland U20 debut in today’s final Pool B clash with Italy at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Santa Fe (kick-off 2.30pm Irish time — live on eir Sport 1).

A combination of Ryan Baird's 21st-minute red card and a luckless spate of injuries left the Ireland Under-20s exposed down the final stretch as Australia ruthlessly took advantage to claim a 45-17 bonus point win in Santa Fe.

Ireland head coach Noel McNamara has been forced to make two changes for tomorrow's World Rugby under-20 Championship match against Australia.

Captain Charlie Ryan praised the collective efforts of his Ireland Under-20 side as they repeated their Six Nations heroics with a brilliant 42-26 bonus point win over England on the opening day of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Santa Fe.

Ireland U20s coach Noel McNamara insists his full focus is on the upcoming Junior World Cup despite suggestions that he could be a possible candidate for a role with Munster under Johann van Graan.

The party will be whittled down to 28 before departure for Santa Fe, via Amsterdam and Buenos Aires. Ireland face England, Australia and Italy in their pool: a tough task.

Dave Mervyn looks ahead to this weekend's AIL action.

In the midst of the Six Nations hype, the provincial coaches beaver away with reduced playing resources, trying to keep the ship afloat and a season’s work on track over a series of Guinness PRO14 games which, by and large, pass unnoticed.

Over 5,500 tickets have been sold for the game at Musgrave Park, which kicks off at 7:15pm on Friday night.

After missing out on last week’s open training session at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland U20 winger Jonathan Wren is back in harness for tomorrow night’s Six Nations showdown against Italy (kick-off 6pm, Irish time).

Billy Scannell, the younger brother of internationals Niall and Rory, will be looking to make his first U20 cap on Friday.

Ireland made it two from two in the the Six Nations U20 Championship after following up their home win over England with a comfortable victory against Scotland at Netherdale last night.

It's a starting fifteen shot-through with senior provincial experience.

A thundering and typically spirited display by the Shannon pack, with skipper Lee Nicholas and flanker Charlie Carmody in inspirational form saw them to a decisive 23-10 victory over Young Munster in a highly enjoyable and keenly contested All-Ireland League encounter at Thomond Park last night.

“What a game! What a spectacle! Is Irish club rugby alive? Yes, yes, and yes again.”

Scrum-half issues further up the chain have impacted on Munster A head coach Peter Malone’s selection for the visit of Dragons A to Cork this afternoon for this Celtic Cup third round game (5:30pm).

After scoring two first-class tries in the opening quarter hour, Crescent looked set for a comfortable win over Rockwell in yesterday’s quarter-final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup at Rosbrien.

Rockwell College have made it into the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior Cup with two first half tries enough to give them victory over a game Castletroy side.

Glenstal are into the quarter-finals of the Munster Schools Senior Cup after scraping past Rockwell College at the University of Limerick’s 4G pitch, writes John Keogh

Glenstal Abbey 18 Rockwell College 0: A powerful display by Glenstal up front and out wide sent Rockwell packing yesterday and put the Co Limerick school into the penultimate stage.