Cillian Gallagher ready to hit highs again for Ireland U20s at Six Nations

New campaign, new batch of players, but Connacht’s Cillian Gallagher feels the appearance by Ireland’s U20s in last year’s World Cup final has set a bar that this and future generations of talent should aspire to match.

One of only three players from the 2016 panel to return this time around, the Sligo forward was an ever-present during a Six Nations campaign that started with two defeats. Expectations were still low for the global event after three subsequent championship wins on the bounce.

Ireland made little of such low opinions, coming back from the dead to beat Wales, becoming the first Irish men’s team to defeat New Zealand, and going all the way to the decider, where England proved too strong.