Categories: Home Top News Ireland U20

Ireland U-20 Men’s Team Named To Face South Africa In Cork

19-year-old out-half Tom Wood played seven times for the Ireland Under-20 Men's team last season ©INPHO/Ben Brady

The Ireland Under-20 Men’s team (sponsored by PwC) has been announced for Friday’s challenge match against South Africa U-20s at Virgin Media Park (kick-off 7.30pm – live on irishrugby+).

Head coach Andrew Browne assembled an extended group of players for a training camp in Cork this week, and has selected a strong squad to take on South Africa in their opening game of the 2025/26 season.

UCD and Leinster prop Sami Bishti will captain the side on Friday night with a number of players – including Charlie Molony, Tom Wood, and Donnacha McGuire – returning for Ireland this season having been capped at U-20 level in the last campaign.

Friday’s encounter will provide Browne and his coaching team with a valuable opportunity to test squad depth and build momentum and cohesion ahead of the 2026 U-20 Men’s Six Nations, which gets underway in February.

Ireland v South Africa tickets are available to purchase via Ticketmaster.ie here. The game will be streamed live on irishrugby+ thanks to PwC, the official sponsor of the Ireland U-20s.

IRELAND UNDER-20 MEN’S Team & Replacements (v South Africa Under-20s, Challenge Match, Virgin Media Park, Friday, November 14, kick-off 7.30pm):

15. Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
14. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
13. Sean Walsh (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
12. James O’Leary (UCC RFC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster)
1. Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt)
4. Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
7. Arthur Ashmore (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
8. Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Replacements:

16. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Sean Walsh (MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster)
20. Michael O’Sullivan (UCC RFC/Munster)
21. Fergus Callington (Durham University/IQ Rugby)
22. Conor O’Shaughnessy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
23. Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster)