Latest news with #NeilDoak
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Two uncapped players get call-ups as Neil Doak names Ireland Under-20 World Championship squad
Neil Doak has named his 30-man squad for the Under-20 World Championships, which get underway on June 29 in Italy.
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland U20 men's and women's squads announced for summer tournaments
THE MEN'S AND women's squads that will represent Ireland in their respective U20 tournaments this summer have been announced. Neil Doak's side will compete in the men's U20 World Championship with Connacht's Éanna McCarthy captaining the 30-player squad for the trip to Italy. 'It's been a challenging season,,' says Doak, 'but this group has shown resilience and real character. We know the competition at the World Championships will be fierce, but these experiences have made us stronger. We're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves on the world stage.' Niamh Briggs has named a 35-person squad for the women's U20 2025 Summer Series in Wales, with Wicklow's Jane Neill named as captain again for the second year of the competition. 'This competition represents a significant step in our player development pathway. It provides a valuable opportunity for young athletes to challenge themselves against top-level opposition, experience the demands of an international environment, and continue their progression toward senior rugby,' Briggs said. Advertisement Ireland U20 Men Squad Forwards Billy Bohan – Corinthians RFC/Connacht Billy Corrigan – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Michael Foy – Cork Constitution FC/Munster Conor Kennelly – Highfield RFC/Munster Tom McAllister – Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster Éanna McCarthy – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Luke McLaughlin – Old Belvedere/Leinster Oisin Minogue – Shannon RFC/Munster Paddy Moore – Blackrock RFC/Leinster Alex Mullan – Blackrock RFC/Leinster Luke Murphy – Young Munster RFC/Munster Bobby Power – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Mahon Ronan – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Alex Usanov – Clontarf FC/Leinster Henry Walker – Queens University/Ulster David Walsh – Terenure RFC/Leinster Mikey Yarr – UCD RFC/Leinster Backs Connor Fahy – Clontarf FC/Leinster Paidi Farrell – Old Wesley RFC/Leinster Dan Green – Queens University/Ulster Clark Logan – Queens University/Ulster Ciaran Mangan – Blackrock College RFC/Leinster Derry Moloney – Blackrock College RFC/Leinster Charlie Molony – UCD RFC/Leinster Chris O'Connor – Terenure College RFC/Leinster Gene O'Leary Kareem – UCC RFC/Munster Eoghan Smyth – Cork Constitution FC/Munster Sam Wisniewski – Old Belvedere/Leinster Tom Wood – Garryown RFC/Munster Will Wootton – Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby Ireland Men U20 Fixtures: Ireland v Georgia, 29 June, 5pm Ireland v Italy, 4 July, 7.30pm New Zealand v Ireland, 9 July, 5pm Ireland U20 Women Squad Forwards Jemima Adams Verling – Creggs RFC/Connacht Alma Atagamen – Balbriggan RFC/Leinster Sophie Barrett – Enniskillen RFC/Ulster Grainne Burke – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Ella Burns – Tuam/Oughterard & Galwegians RFC/Connacht Beth Buttimer – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Maebh Clenaghan – Queens University Belfast RFC/Ulster Carla Cooney – Tullow RFC/Leinster Aoife Corcoran – MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster Saoirse Crowe – Shannon RFC/UL Bohemian RFC / Munster Poppy Garvey – Railway Union RFC/Connacht Beibhinn Gleeson – Tuam/Oughterard/Connacht Sally Kelly – Ennis RFC/Munster Merisa Kiripati – Creggs RFC/Connacht Lily Morris – Ballincollig RFC/Munster Jane Neill – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Aoibhe O Flynn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Rosie Searle – Navan RFC/Leinster Backs Emma Brogan – MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster Hannah Clarke – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Lyndsay Clarke – Ennis RFC/Munster Katie Corrigan – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Clara Dunne- Wicklow RFC/Leinster Caitriona Finn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Emily Foley – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Jade Gaffney – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Niamh Gallagher – Saracens/IQ Rugby May Goulding – Old Albians/Saracens/IQ Rugby Lucia Linn – UL Bohemian RFC/Munster Caoimhe McCormack – Railway Union RFC/Leinster Grainne Moran – Galwegians RFC/Connacht Robyn O'Connor – Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster Tara O'Neill – Cooke RFC/Ulster Ellie O Sullivan Sexton – Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster Hannah Scanlon – Railway Union RFC/Leinster Ireland U20 Women Fixtures:
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Neil Doak names two uncapped players in Ireland squad for Under-20 World Championship squad
Ireland head coach Neil Doak has named two uncapped players in hooker Luke McLaughlin and Tullamore-born wing Páidí Farrell in the squad for the Under-20 World Championship, which starts later this month across four venues in Italy. There was some good news in that prop Alex Usanov, who played last season at this age-grade but missed the Six Nations through injury, is fit. So too is Shannon number eight Luke Murphy, who was a key member of last year's squad but also missed the Six Nations. Murphy, secondrow Billy Corrigan, hooker Mikey Yarr and prop Alex Mullan played in last year's World Cup. Unfortunately, six foot 10-inch Alan Spicer, who played for the 20s last season but missed the Six Nations, is absent, as is promising American born tighthead prop Niall Smyth, who had shoulder surgery following an injury in an A interprovincial against Munster earlier in the season. It was expected that both would be available. McLaughlin, who played AIL for Old Belvedere is a year young for this age-grade. His older brother Hugo played on the 20s last season. Farrell's elevation is not before time, a young player with top-end speed, a frequent try scorer for Old Wesley and a former underage international at 15s and Sevens. READ MORE Doak has largely stuck with the group of players that finished bottom of the Six Nations with just a single victory over Scotland. They lost heavily to the Scots 48-29 in a World Cup warm-up game in Belfast last weekend. Derry Moloney returns after picking up an injury in the England game, but Todd Lawlor, if fit, would have been unlucky to miss out. Ireland face Georgia, whom they squeezed past in the World Cup last year in their opening game, then hosts Italy, who beat Doak's side in the Six Nations but lost to Ireland in the World Championship in South Africa last summer. In the final pool game they will take on New Zealand, who beat them 38-24 in the bronze-medal match in this tournament last year. Meanwhile, Ireland Under-20 women's head coach Niamh Briggs has named a 35-strong squad for the 2025 Summer Series taking place in Wales. The series returns for a second year, offering the future stars of women's rugby the opportunity to gain important experience on the international stage, and a new step on the development pathway towards the elite game. Eleven players return to the squad having taken part in the inaugural Summer Series last year and Wicklow's Jane Neill captains the side again. Ireland men's under-20 squad – Forwards: A Usanov (Leinster), P Moore (Leinster), B Bohan (Connacht), H Walker (Ulster), L McLaughlin (Leinster), M Yarr (Leinster), A Mullan (Leinster), T McAllister (Ulster), M Ronan (Leinster), B Corrigan (Leinster), D Walsh (Leinster), C Kennelly (Munster), B Power (Connacht), L Murphy (Munster), M Foy (Munster), E McCarthy (Connacht, capt), O Minogue (Munster). Backs: C O'Connor (Leinster), C Logan (Ulster), W Wootton (Sale Sharks), T Wood (Munster), S Wisniewski (Leinster), C Fahy (Leinster), E Smyth (Munster), C Mangan (Leinster), G O'Leary Kareem (Munster), C Molony (Leinster), D Moloney (Leinster), P Farrell (Leinster), D Green (Ulster). Fixtures (all time Irish) June 29th: Ireland v Georgia, Stadio San Michele, 5pm. July 4th: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, 7.30pm. July 9th: Ireland v New Zealand, Stadio San Michele, 5pm. July 14th: Playoff matches. July 19th: Playoff matches including final. Ieland women's under-20 squad – Forwards: J Adams Verling (Creggs), A Atagamen (Balbriggan), S Barrett (Enniskillen), G Burke (UL Bohemian), E Burns (Tuam/Oughterard & Galwegians), B Buttimer (UL Bohemian), M Clenaghan (QUB), C Cooney (Tullow), A Corcoran (MU Barnhall), S Crowe (Shannon/UL Bohemian), P Garvey (Railway Union), B Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard), S Kelly (Ennis), M Kiripati (Creggs), L Morris (Ballincollig), J Neill (Old Belvedere), A O Flynn (UL Bohemian), R Searle (Navan). Backs: E Brogan (MU Barnhall), H Clarke (Galwegians), L Clarke (Ennis), K Corrigan (Old Belvedere), C Dunne (Wicklow), C Finn (UL Bohemian), E Foley (Galwegians), J Gaffney (Old Belvedere), N Gallagher (Saracens/IQ Rugby), M Goulding (Old Albians/Saracens/IQ Rugby), L Linn (UL Bohemian), C McCormack (Railway Union), G Moran (Galwegians), R O'Connor (Wexford Wanderers), T O'Neill (Cooke), E O'Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere), H Scanlon (Railway Union). Fixtures July 5th: Wales v Ireland, 3.30pm. July 11th: Ireland v France, 3.30pm. July 17th: Scotland v Ireland, 1pm.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Ireland under-20s to open World Rugby Championship campaign against Georgia
Ireland will play their opening fixture at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship against Georgia on Sunday, June 29th (5pm Irish time). The game will be the opener of a Pool C double-header at the Stadio San Michele in Calvisano, with New Zealand and Italy playing in the second game (7.30pm). In their second outing, Neil Doak's side will face against the Italians, on Friday, July 4th at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana. Ireland will return to Calvisano for their last pool game on Wednesday, July 9th, where they will face the Baby Blacks (5.30pm Irish time). READ MORE The three pool winners and the best runner-up will contest the main semi-finals. Each team will play five matches in total with the side that finishes 12th relegated to the World Trophy competition. Ireland won their pool in last season's tournament in Cape Town but lost their semi-final to the eventual champions England, and subsequently lost the third-place playoff game against New Zealand. Ireland have twice reached an Under-20 World Cup final – in 2016 when they lost to hosts England and in 2023 when they were beaten by France. The current Irish squad finished bottom of the Six Nations, managing just a single victory over Scotland. Doak will hopefully have a stronger hand up front if Alan Spicer, Alex Usanov, Niall Smyth, Emmet Calvey and Luke Murphy, who missed the championship through injury, are back and available to play. World Rugby also announced the 10 referees and five television match officials (TMOs) that will preside over the tournament, including Ireland's Peter Martin and Leo Colgan. The selected referees are Tomas Bertazza (Argentina), Ben Breakspear (Wales), Griffin Colby (South Africa), Katsuki Furuse (Japan), Peter Martin (Ireland), Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France), Filippo Russo (Italy), Lex Weiner (USA) and Morgan White (Hong Kong China). The TMOs are Leo Colgan (Ireland), Graham Cooper (Australia), Aled Griffiths (Wales), Quinton Immelman (South Africa) and Dan Jones (RFU) with two of them – Colgan and Immelman – also selected for this year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England. World Rugby Talent ID manager and tournament referee manager, Ireland's Johnny Lacey said: 'The selection of this panel highlights the referees that are coming through our pathway system. We have been working closely with our unions and regions to increase the number of match officials in our pathway into World Rugby competitions. 'We are already starting to see the benefits with our talent identification programme providing four referees for this tournament and we are excited to see what the future holds for the officials involved in our men's and women's pathways.' The World Championship final will take place in the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo on Saturday, July 19th (7.30pm Irish time).
