Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: England Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s

The Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) showed their battling qualities to overcome Italy, and will have to do so again in Bath tonight if they are to end England’s unbeaten run in this year’s U-20 Men’s Six Nations.

2026 UNDER-20 MEN’S SIX NATIONS – ROUND 3:

Friday, February 20 –

ENGLAND UNDER-20 MEN (2nd) v IRELAND UNDER-20 MEN (4th), Recreation Ground, 7.45pm (live Virgin Media Two/Virgin Media Play/BBC iPlayer)

Opta Facts – Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: England U-20s v Ireland U-20s

Team News: Following their four-try performance against the Italians in Cork, Ireland Under-20 head coach Andrew Browne has made two personnel changes. Donnacha McGuire, a late withdrawal last week, returns at lock in place of knee injury victim Dylan McNeice.

McGuire pairs up with Joe Finn who shifts to the second row from the back row. Finn’s Garryowen club-mate, Billy Hayes, comes into the loose forwards, alongside Diarmaid O’Connell and Josh Neill, the PwC player-of-the-match from the 30-27 win over the Azzurrini.

Captain Sami Bishti, Lee Fitzpatrick, and Max Doyle combine in an all-Leinster front row for the second week running, while Cashel clubman Rob Carney continues at outside centre, partnering James O’Leary, after making an impressive debut at this age-grade last Friday night.

UCC scrum half Christopher Barrett, the Championship’s top try scorer with three tries, and Tom Wood, the scorer of 16 points after two rounds, will lead an unchanged Irish back-line that has contributed five tries so far.

Derry Moloney, who ranks in the tournament’s top five for tackle breaks (10) and running metres (166.3), is joined again in the back-three by full-back Noah Byrne and Connacht’s Daniel Ryan, a try scorer against Italy.

MU Barnhall’s Sean Walsh reverts to the bench after proving a more than able deputy for McGuire last time out. Ireland’s matchday squad is completed by Rian Handley, Christian Foley, Blake McClean, Ben Blaney, James O’Dwyer, Charlie O’Shea, and Johnny O’Sullivan.

Meanwhile, England Under-20 head coach Andy Titterrell has also made two changes, bringing in Bath’s own Tyler Offiah, the son of rugby league legend Martin, for his first U-20 Six Nations start on the right wing.

The England U-20s are second in the table having made it two wins out two aftr beating Scotland 33-17 at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium. Unanswered second-half tries from James Pater and replacement Will Knight saw them take the spoils.

Harlequins prop Ollie Streeter is the other change, taking over from Sonny Tonga’uiha at tighthead. Number 8 Connor Treacey, a try scorer against the Scots, captains his country at his club’s home stadium.

Jerold Gorleku, Tate Williams, and George Newman are set for their U-20 debuts from England’s replacements bench, with the twice-capped Ollie Davies returning for his first matchday involvement this season.

Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Table

ENGLAND U-20: James Pater (Northampton Saints); Tyler Offiah (Bath), Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs), Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears), George Pearson (Leicester Tigers); Finn Keylock (Saracens), Lucas Friday (Harlequins); Oliver Scola (Northampton Saints), Jimmy Staples (Harlequins), Ollie Streeter (Harlequins), Elliot Williams (Harlequins), Patrick Hogg (Sale Sharks), Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints), Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks), Connor Treacey (Bath) (capt).

Replacements: Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins), Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks), Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints), Tate Williams (Harlequins), George Marsh (Leicester Tigers), George Newman (Exeter Chiefs), Will Knight (Gloucester), Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks).

IRELAND U-20: Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster); Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Rob Carney (Cashel RFC/Munster), James O’Leary (UCC RFC/Munster), Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster), Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster); Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt), Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster), Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster), Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster), Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht).

Replacements: Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster), Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster), Sean Walsh (MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster), Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster), Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster).

Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
Assistant Referees: Carwyn Sion, Lucas Yendle (both WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Watch

Tonight’s game is live on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on the BBC iPlayer.

Recent Meetings –

2023: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 36 England U-20s 24, Virgin Media Park; World Rugby Under-20 Men’s Championship Pool B: England U-20s 34 Ireland U-20s 34, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl

2024: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: England U-20s 32 Ireland U-20s 32, Recreation Ground, Bath; World Rugby Under-20 Men’s Championship Semi-Final: England U-20s 31 Ireland U-20s 20, DHL Stadium, Cape Town

2025: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 3 England U-20s 19, Virgin Media Park

Support the Ireland U-20 Men on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen and #ENGvIRE on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.