Sweetnam ‘spark’ earns Ireland U20 call-up

Darren Sweetnam’s rise from inter-county hurler to professional rugby player reached another milestone yesterday with his call-up to the Ireland U20 squad, but coach Mike Ruddock has warned the Cork tyro has a lot of hard work ahead.

Ruddock named the 19-year-old UCC man in his squad for the Six Nations, singling him out as a talent playing catch-up with some of his more experienced colleagues.

Sweetnam was a regular in Cork’s midfield last season, but opted to take on rugby full-time when offered a place in Munster’s Academy at the start of the campaign.