2026 WORLD RUGBY JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - POOL C:
IRELAND UNDER-20s 73 USA UNDER-20s 22, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi
Scorers: Ireland U-20s: Tries: Christopher Barrett, Charlie O'Shea 3, Seán Walsh 3, Rob Carney, Adam Cooper, Daniel Ryan, Jack Deegan; Cons: Daniel Green 9
USA U-20s: Tries: Finnian Love, Joseph Sarkees, Leo Keesler-Venables; Cons: Jack Firebrace 2; Pen: Declan Cadden
HT: Ireland Under-20s 45 USA Under-20s 3
After losing to England and Argentina, the Ireland U-20s opened their win account at the World Rugby Junior World Championship in the final round of the pool stages.
Tries from lively half-backs Christopher Barrett and Charlie O'Shea, inside the opening four minutes, set the tone as Andrew Browne's side built a 45-3 half-time lead.
The 11 Irish tries were shared out between six backs and one forward, new Connacht Academy recruit Adam Cooper, while Charlie Molony was sent off early in the final quarter after picking up a second yellow card.
Ulster's Daniel Green impressed from the tee with nine conversions, while two other provincial Academy talents touched down again - Daniel Ryan now has four tries to his name, with Jack Deegan on three.
Ireland's third place finish in their pool means they move on to compete in the tournament's 9th-12th place bracket, with their opponents to be confirmed later today.
Head coach Browne made 11 personnel changes from last Thursday's disappointing 62-40 defeat to Argentina, with a new-look team captained by Terenure College's Ben Blaney.
Full report to follow...
TIME LINE: 2 minutes - Ireland Under-20s try: Christopher Barrett - 5-0; conversion: Daniel Green - 7-0; 4 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Charlie O'Shea - 12-0; conversion: Daniel Green - 14-3; 15 mins - USA Under-20s penalty: Declan Cadden - 14-3; 17 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Seán Walsh - 19-3; conversion: missed by Daniel Green - 19-3; 28 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Charlie O'Shea - 24-3; conversion: Daniel Green - 26-3; 31 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Charlie O'Shea - 31-3; conversion: Daniel Green - 33-3; 34 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Seán Walsh - 38-3; conversion: Daniel Green - 40-3; 37 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Rob Carney - 45-3; conversion: missed by Daniel Green - 45-3; Half-time - Ireland Under-20s 45 USA Under-20s 3; 42 mins - Ireland Under-20s yellow card: Charlie Molony; 44 mins - USA Under-20s try: Finnian Love - 45-8; conversion: missed by Jack Firebrace - 45-8; 48 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Adam Cooper - 50-8; conversion: Daniel Green - 52-8; 53 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Seán Walsh - 57-8; conversion: Daniel Green - 59-8; 55 mins - USA Under-20s yellow card: Jayden Williams; 59 mins - USA Under-20s try: Joseph Sarkees - 59-13; conversion: Jack Firebrace - 59-15; 61 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Daniel Ryan - 64-15; conversion: Daniel Green - 66-15; 63 mins - Ireland Under-20s red card: Charlie Molony; 74 mins - USA Under-20s try: Leo Keesler-Venables - 66-20; conversion: Jack Firebrace - 66-22; 76 mins - Ireland Under-20s try: Jack Deegan - 71-22; conversion: Daniel Green - 73-22; Full-time - Ireland Under-20s 73 USA Under-20s 22
Green, Carney, Walsh, O'Sullivan, O'Shea, Cooper, Maguire, McClean, Walsh, Keane, Blaney
IRELAND U-20: Daniel Green (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster), Rob Carney (Cashel RFC/Munster), Seán Walsh (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Johnny O'Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster); Charlie O'Shea (UCC RFC/Munster), Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster); Adam Cooper (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Duinn Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster), Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster), Seán Walsh (MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster), Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster), Charlie Keane (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster) (capt), Alex Lautsou (Shannon RFC/Munster).
Replacements used: Luke McLaughlin (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) for Maguire, Jamie Conway (Shannon RFC/Munster) for McClean (both 48 mins), Luke Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) for Barrett, Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) (both 54), Jack Deegan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) for Carney, Paddy Woods (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster) for Finn (both 60), Diarmaid O'Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) for Keane (69), Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster) for Cooper (73).
USA U-20: Blake Miller (Maroochydore Swans); Sialeafuhia Ofa (St. Mary's College), William Darbishire (University of Nottingham) (capt), Leo Keesler-Venables (Life University), Finnian Love (Cornish Pirates); Declan Cadden (Loughborough University), Joseph Sarkees (Penn State University); Colin Donnelly (St. Mary's College), Aidan Stewart (Life University), Tyler Trower (Hartpury University), Lyndon Bailey (Western Washington University), Tanielu Talaepa (Petone Rugby Club), Liam Hill (UCLA), Harrison Cluff (UCLA), Frank Finicle (Loyola University of New Orleans).
Replacements used: Jack Firebrace (Gordon's School) for Cadden (17 mins), Alfie Booth (Mount St. Mary's University) for Trower, Salesi Kafovalu (Life West Rugby Club) for Stewart (both 35), Sawyer Troupe (Life University) for Donnelly, Pierce Kelly (Belmont Shore) for Talaepa, Jayden Williams (Ohio State University) for Hill (all 51), Yiannis Efthymiopoulos (Biella Rugby Club) for Finicle (60), Trower for Booth (63), Dane Mitchell (Sydney University) for Ofa (71).
Referee: George Selwood (RFU)
