Neil Doak appointed Ireland under-20 head coach ahead of 2025 Six Nations

Doak has coached the Ireland under-18s and combined academy sides in recent seasons, and was part of the Ireland U20 coaching team for last summer’s U20 World Championship in South Africa as a senior coach.

Neil Doak. Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Jonathan Porter

Neil Doak has been appointed as Ireland under-20 head coach ahead of the 2025 Six Nations. 

Former Ulster coach Doak has coached the Ireland under-18s and combined academy sides in recent seasons, and was part of the Ireland U20 coaching team under Willie Faloon for last summer’s U20 World Championship in South Africa as a senior coach.

“It is a huge honour to take on the role of Ireland Men’s under-20s head coach, and a challenge I am massively excited about. We have had a number of camps in the High Performance Centre and the application, hard work and commitment of the players has been really impressive," Doak said.

“We have a lot of work to get through in preparation for the under-20 Six Nations, but the group are focused on building positively day-by-day and the upcoming matches against Italy and the Leinster Development XV over the Christmas and New Year period present us with an invaluable opportunity to build that cohesion and momentum.

“We look forward to the challenges ahead, starting off with the visit of England to Virgin Media Park, where the Ireland under-20s have received incredible support from the people of Cork in recent years, and we are determined to continue our excellent home record there and produce a performance we can be proud of.”

Former scrum-half Doak will be assisted during the 2025 campaign by assistant coaches Ian Keatley, who continues in his role from last year’s Six Nations and U20 World Championship, and former Connacht second-row Andrew Browne, as well as scrum expert Seamus Toomey.

An extended Ireland under-20s squad will step up preparations for the Six Nations in the coming weeks, as they face Italy in an uncapped match on Friday, December 20, before going head-to-head with a Leinster Development XV on January 4.