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

Scotland stand between the Ireland Under-20 Men’s team (sponsored by PwC) and their first competitive win of 2025, as the U-20 Men’s Six Nations Championship continues tonight in Edinburgh (kick-off 7.45pm – live on RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC iPlayer).

UNDER-20 MEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2:

Saturday, February 8 –

SCOTLAND UNDER-20 MEN (5th) v IRELAND UNDER-20 MEN (6th), Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, 7.45pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC iPlayer)

Team News: Ireland Under-20 Men’s head coach Neil Doak has made three changes for the second round encounter at Hive Stadium. Connacht Academy forward Éanna McCarthy leads the team again from the back row.

With Alex Usanov unfortunately suffering a tournament-ending knee injury, and Derry Moloney nursing a broken finger, Galway Corinthians clubman Billy Bohan will pack down at loosehead prop, and Daniel Green and Gene O’Leary Kareem come into the back-line.

Versatile Ulster back Green, who came through the IQ Rugby pathway, starts at full-back, meaning a move to the right wing for UCD’s Charlie Molony in place of the sidelined Moloney. Eoghan Smyth drops to the replacements bench.

Connor Fahy, Ciarán Mangan, Sam Wisniewski, who kicked Ireland’s only points in a 19-3 defeat to England, and Clark Logan complete the starting back-line for Doak’s side.

The McCarthy-led pack provides continuity, with Usanov’s early injury last week seeing Bohan come on after just 14 minutes. He combines again with Henry Walker and Alex Mullan in the front row, and Old Wesley duo Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan continue as the lock pairing.

Munster Academy forward Michael Foy, who had three dominant tackles and two breakdown steals in the England game, links up in the back row with Bobby Power and captain McCarthy for the second week running.

Blackrock College prop Paddy Moore is poised to make his Ireland U-20 debut off the bench. Half-backs Will Wootton and Dylan Hicks are also in line for their first appearances at this level, with Wootton, like Green and Walker, indentified through the IQ Rugby programme.

Completing Ireland’s matchday 23 are Connor Magee, Tom McAllister, David Walsh, Oisin Minogue, and Smyth, who all got game-time under their belts last week in Cork.

Speaking about tonight’s opponents and what it is like playing a second season with the Ireland U-20s, Ulster hooker Walker said: “We always know Scotland are going to be physical. I played them last year at the end of the Six Nations and they were a very physical side.

“Obviously this year they’ve got another crowd of big lads. They’ve got the likes of Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Reuben Logan. They’re big lads and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“There’s a few other lads in our squad that were involved last season, and it just helped me settle this year. Calmed the nerves a little bit, because it can spook you.

“Obviously my first game against France (a year ago) I was a little bit spooked, but having those players that played before around you really does settle the nerves.

“I feel like I want to be that player this year to help those lads through it, those tough times. You just have to get the head down and keep moving forward.”

Meanwhile, following last week’s 22-10 defeat to Italy at the same venue, Scotland U-20 head coach Kenny Murray has backed an unchanged team to bounce back with a positive result.

Scotland’s only alteration is on the bench where Edinburgh prop Jamie Stewart is called up. Their starting front row again consists of Blyth-Lafferty, on the tighthead side, and Glasgow Warriors pair Oliver McKenna and Joe Roberts.

The hosts’ tight five also contains Dan Halkon and Charlie Moss, while Dungannon flanker Billy Allen – a try scorer against Italy, and an Ulster U-19 representative last season alongside both Logan and McAllister – features in the back row alongside Christian Lindsay and Reuben Logan.

Outside the half-back combination of Matthew Urwin and Noah Cowan, Scotland boast an experienced centre partnership as captain Jonny Ventisei and Kerr Yule pair up in midfield for the seventh time at U-20 level.

Guy Rogers, an Academy Scholarship player with English club Harlequins, will make his second U-20 Six Nations appearance on the right wing, with Fergus Watson stationed on the left, and Edinburgh’s Jack Brown occupying the full-back position.

Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Fixtures/Results

Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Table

SCOTLAND U-20: Jack Brown (Edinburgh); Guy Rogers (University of Surrey/Harlequins), Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors) (capt), Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors), Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors); Matthew Urwin (Glasgow Warriors), Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders); Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors), Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh), Charlie Moss (Montpellier), Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), Christian Lindsay (Loretto School/Edinburgh), Billy Allen (Dungannon), Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints).

Replacements: Seb Stephen (Edinburgh Academical FC), Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh), Bart Godsell (Loughborough University), Oliver Duncan (Edinburgh), Hector Patterson (Edinburgh), Ross Wolfenden (Edinburgh), Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh).

IRELAND U-20: Daniel Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster), Gene O’Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster), Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Clark Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster), Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) (capt).

Replacements: Connor Magee (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Paddy Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), David Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Oisin Minogue (Shannon RFC/Munster), Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Dylan Hicks (Garryowen FC/Munster), Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster).

Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Filippo Russo, Federico Vedovelli (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Watch

The game is live on RTÉ 2 in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on the BBC iPlayer.

Pre-Match Quotes – Ian Keatley (Ireland U-20s): “We have a tough challenge against Scotland. They’re actually a very good team. They like to move the ball around. They’re quite clever tactically.

“Their 12 (Kerr Yule), he’s a very good player. A very strong carrier. Very good pack, very good scrum. We’re under no illusion, Scotland are going to be very good this week.

“I think if we made drastic changes (to the team), it would be the wrong thing for us as a team and the cohesion. To give them that confidence that we trust them, to go out again and try and correct the wrongs from last week.

“I think it’s very important for them to develop not just for this Six Nations, but their whole career.”

Kenny Murray (Scotland U-20s): “We’re looking for that consistency across the pitch so we’re happy to be able to keep the same starting team as last week.

“We’re still looking for that 80-minute performance that we’re capable of, and it’s important that we produce something that our fans at Hive Stadium can be proud of.

“It was a great atmosphere for the game last weekend which was a valuable experience for our players to be involved in, and I’m sure it will be more of the same this weekend.”

Recent Meetings –

2022: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 59 Scotland U-20s 5, Musgrave Park; U-20 Men’s Six Nations Summer Series Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 41 Scotland U-20s 24, Stadio di Monigo, Treviso

2023: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: Scotland U-20s 7 Ireland U-20s 82, Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

2024: Under-20 Men’s Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 36 Scotland U-20s 0, Virgin Media Park

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