Tullow man Charlie Ward has been called up to the final squad for the Irish U20s World Cup.
Following their Grand Slam success, the Under-20s will embark on next month’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Argentina.
Their first match is against England on June the 4th.
Charlie is part of an uncapped group along with Munster second row prospect Thomas Ahern.
Coach Noel McNamara said: “Thomas Ahern is a physically impressive athlete. I went to watch the (Ireland) Under-19s play in France and was particularly impressed with him and his performances there. You don’t meet many 6ft 8in guys, who are as athletic as he is. There is definitely a lot of upside to him”.
“Equally, Charlie Ward is comfortable both sides of the scrum. He is a guy who has come through the Youths pathway. Another man from Tullow, just as one leaves us another arrives. Hopefully, Charlie can have a similar impact to the previous ‘Tullow Tank”.
Ireland U20 Squad (2019 World Rugby U-20 Championship)
Backs (14) –
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) (vice-capt)
Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Sean French (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster)
Bruce Houston (Ballymena/Ulster) *
Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *
Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Adam La Grue (Terenure College/Leinster) *
Stewart Moore (Malone/Ulster) *
Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster)
Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster)
Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Forwards (18) –
Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster) *
Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster) *
Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster) *
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)
Tom Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)
Brian Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster)
John Hodnett (UCC/Munster)
David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster)
John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster)
Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Callum Reid (Banbridge/Ulster)
Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht)
Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster) *
Ronan Watters (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)
* Denotes uncapped player at Under-20 level
Unavailable due to injury
Harry Byrne
David Hawkshaw
Scott Penny
Conor Phillips
Ireland Under-20s – World Rugby U-20 Championship Fixtures
POOL B:
Tuesday, June 4 – England v IRELAND, CRAI, Santa Fe, 3.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time
Saturday. June 8 – Australia v IRELAND, CRAI, Santa Fe, 10.30am local time/2.30pm Irish time
Wednesday, June 12 – Italy v IRELAND, CRAI, Santa Fe, 10.30am local time/2.30pm Irish time
SEMI-FINALS/PLAY-OFFS:
Monday, June 17 – Racecourse Stadium, Rosario or Club Old Resian, Rosario
FINALS:
Saturday, June 22 – Racecourse Stadium, Rosario or Club Old Resian, Rosario
