Scots and Irish consider U20 exit

SCOTLAND are understood to be ready to join Ireland in withdrawing their Under-20 sides from future Junior World Championships, it emerged yesterday.

Uncertainty surrounds both countries’ ongoing participation in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) flagship junior tournament following reports yesterday that the IRFU is poised to withdraw from the competition from next year.

The timing of the competition and the number of games — five in 17 days — are believed to be the primary concerns, along with cost issues, even though the IRB covers flights and hotel expenses for each of the 12 competing countries.

While the IRFU has yet to comment on the reports, a Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) spokesman yesterday said: “We are in discussions with the IRB so are probably not in a position to make any comment at this stage,” before adding that “a number of things are on the table for discussion with the IRB. Graham Lowe (SRU performance director) is out with the U20s and he will be having discussions.”

A number of other teams, including USA, Canada and Samoa, who participated in the inaugural Junior World Championship, pulled out in recent years due to costs, while Wales are also believed to be considering pulling out.

Ireland are poised to record their best-ever finish at this year’s tournament in Italy — where they meet South Africa tonight (7.10pm Irish time) in the fifth-eighth place play-offs at the Stadio Plebiscito in Padova.

Ireland coach Mike Ruddock has made just one change to the side that beat Scotland in their final pool game, with David Doyle starting in the back row. Finlay Bealham and Alex Kelly have been named among the replacements.

Ireland are facing the Baby Boks for the second time in the tournament, having lost 42-26 in the pool stages last week.

Ruddock said: “If we improve on our last performance then we will be in the game big time.”

IRELAND U20 (v South Africa): T O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht); A Conway (Blackrock/Leinster) B Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), L Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), A Boyle (UCD/Leinster); P Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), K Marmion (UWIC/Exile); J Tracy (UCD/Leinster), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster, capt), T Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster); M Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster), I Henderson (Queen’s University/Ulster); E McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht), D Doyle (UCD/Leinster), J Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster).

Replacements: F Bealham (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), C Carey (Ballymena/Ulster), D Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), S Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), P du Toit (UCD/Leinster), J McKinney (Queen’s University/Ulster), A Kelly (UCD/Leinster).

Picture: Niall Annett, Ireland, tries to break through the Scotland defence during the Junior World Championship in Italy. Both nations are believed to be considering pulling out of the tournament from next year. Picture: Sportsfile