Ireland U-18 Men’s Rugby Squad Announced for Six Nations Men’s U18 Festival in Parma
This dynamic 26-man lineup boasts a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents, ready to leave their mark on the international stage. Among the squad are two familiar faces from last year’s tournament in Dublin: Charlie Molony and Luke McLaughlin, the younger sibling of Ireland U20 player Hugo McLaughlin.
Earning their place in the squad are several standout players who recently clinched Schools Cup medals, including the likes of Brian O’Flaherty, Conor O’Shaughnessy, Donnacha McGuire, and Michael Walsh from Blackrock College, alongside James O’Leary from Pres. Cork, and RBAI’s Blake McClean and Josh Gibson. Additionally, Noah Byrne, who was a standout performancer for Dublin minor footballers last season and with Gonzaga this season, adds further depth to the team’s talent pool.
The squad is gearing up for an intense fixture list, with their campaign commencing against France on March 30th, followed by clashes against host nation Italy on April 3rd, before concluding their tournament journey against Portugal on April 7th. Fans worldwide can catch every moment of action as all matches will be live-streamed by Six Nations and accessible via IrishRugby.ie and YouTube.
Wayne Mitchell, National Talent Squad & Talent ID Manager, shared his enthusiasm for the tournament, emphasising its role in providing young players with invaluable exposure to elite-level competition.
Ireland U18 Schools Squad (U18 Six Nations Festival 2024, Parma, Italy, March 29-April 7)
Chris Barrett (CBC Cork/Munster Rugby)
Ethan Black (St. Michael’s College/Leinster Rugby)
Noah Byrne (Gonzaga College/Leinster Rugby)
Jamie Conway (Castletroy College/Munster Rugby)
Paddy Curry (Terenure College/Leinster Rugby)
Jack Deegan (CC Roscrea College/Leinster Rugby)
Max Doyle (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster Rugby)
Joe Finn (Roscrea College/Munster Rugby)
Rory Gavin (Colaiste Iognaid/Galwegians RFC/Connacht Rugby)
Josh Gibson (RBAI/Ulster Rugby)
Bill Hayes (CC Roscrea College/Munster Rugby)
Conor Magee (Banbridge Academy/Ulster Rugby)
Luke McLaughlin (Gonzaga College/Leinster Rugby)
Blake McClean (RBAI/Ulster Rugby)
Donnacha McGuire (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Dylan McNeice (St. Michael’s College/Leinster Rugby)
Charlie Meagher (CBC Monkstown/Leinster Rugby)
Charlie Molony (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Diarmuid O’Connell (Carrick on Shannon RFC/Sligo Grammar/Connacht Rugby)
James O’Dwyer (Gonzaga College/Leinster Rugby)
Brian O’Flaherty (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
James O’Leary (PBC Cork/Munster Rugby)
Conor O’Shaughnessy (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Cian Walsh (CBC Cork/Munster Rugby)
Michael Walsh (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)
Tom Wood (St. Munchins College/Munster Rugby)
Ireland U18 School Management
Neil Doak – Head Coach
Brendan O’Connor – Assistant Coach
Michael Hodge – Assistant Coach
Stephen O’Hara – Team Manager
James O’Leary – Athletic Development Coach
David Lyons – Team Physio
Prof. John Ryan – Team Doctor
Brandon Shanahan – Team Analyst
Mo Dempsey – Team Logistics
U18 Six Nations Festival 2024 – Fixtures
Ireland u18 vs. France u18 (30th March 2024) @ 15.30pm
Ireland u18 vs. Italy u18 (3rd April 2024) @ 17.45pm
Ireland u18 vs. Portugal u18 (7th April 2024) @ 11.00am
