Munster's Tom Wood wants to be 'more of a leader on and off the pitch' for Ireland U20s

Wood said his father Keith — the former Ireland international — likes his sons to figure out the game on their own

RISING STAR: Munster hopeful Tom Wood at Ireland's Under 20 Six Nations squad announcement, in conjunction with PwC, in Dublin. Pic: Nick Elliott, Inpho

Just under a year on from his debut at the grade, Tom Wood believes he has returned for another season with the Ireland Men’s U20s as a different player to the one he was in 2025.

After making his competitive bow off the bench against Wales on February 21 of last year in the third round of the U20s Six Nations, Munster Academy star Wood enjoyed starts at out-half against both France and Italy – scoring a try in the latter game.

While Ireland finished last year’s U20 tournament at the foot of the table – and had to be content with 11th spot at the World Rugby U20 Championships a few months later – Wood will nonetheless be hoping to benefit from this exposure to underage international rugby. 

Along with Donnacha McGuire, Derry Moloney and Charlie Molony, he is one of four returning players in this year’s Ireland squad for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign and acknowledged he has been taking on greater responsibility within the 2026 group.

“I think the main difference, and I’m trying to influence this, is that more of a leadership role on the team. Especially being a year young last year, I probably didn’t drive the standards enough. I wasn’t as demanding as I think I could have been last year,” said Wood.

“Coming in this year, I just think I need to drive that up another step and make sure I'm demanding standards of the players around me. Demanding the ball more and being more of a leader on and off the pitch, I think. That will stand to me and it will stand to the team, I think, throughout the year. So that’s pretty much the difference.” 

As was the case in 2025, there will be plenty of interest in how Wood performs for Ireland in the coming weeks – starting with a tricky opener away to defending champions France on February 7.

First noted as a prospect at St Munchin’s College in Limerick and with Ballina-Killaloe RFC at club level, Tom is the son of former Ireland captain Keith Wood.

Considering his father also represented Munster, Harlequins and the British & Irish Lions during a memorable career in professional rugby, Tom doesn’t have to look too far for guidance as he attempts to navigate his way through the oval ball game.

Yet even though Keith has watched Tom playing alongside his brothers Gordon (also part of the Munster Academy) and Alex with Garryowen in the All-Ireland League, he tries to keep his distance as much as possible.

“He’s pretty tame," Wood said of his father.

"He likes us to figure it out on our own. He is very good for those insights that you wouldn’t really get off anyone else. He still sees the game pretty well, more than a lot of people. He is good for those little bits of feedback, that you mightn’t have even thought about, after the game."