Head Coach Andrew Browne has today named the Ireland Men’s U20s Squad, sponsored by PwC, for the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia.
Ireland have been drawn in Pool C alongside Argentina, England and USA for this summer’s tournament and will play all their Pool matches at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.
Eight Munster players have been selected: Christopher Barrett (scrum-half), Rob Carney (centre), Jamie Conway (prop), Joe Finn (lock), Alex Lautsou (back-row), James O’Leary (centre), Charlie O’Shea (out-half) and Tom Wood (out-half).
UCC scrum-half Barrett is a former CBC student and Cork Constitution clubman who helped his school to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title last season having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.
Cashel RFC outside centre Rob Carney has featured regularly for his club at senior level this season. Carney started out at Roscrea RFC and played his schools rugby with Cistercian College Roscrea, lining out for the Munster U19s in 2024.
Shannon RFC prop Jamie Conway came up through the ranks at Old Crescent and Castletroy College and has made 19 appearances in his first year at senior level for Shannon this season.
Garryowen lock/flanker Joe Finn is a former Cistercian College Roscrea student who started out at Ballina-Killaloe RFC and has already featured for Munster A.
Shannon back-row forward Alex Lautsou is a former Castletroy College student who trained with the Munster senior squad earlier this season and made 15 appearances for the Shannon senior team this season.
UCC inside centre O’Leary is a former PBC student and Cork Constitution clubman who has started the last three Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup finals, earning winners’ medals in 2023 and 2024.
UCC’s Charlie O’Shea helped CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title last season having also reached the final of the competition in 2023 and 2024.
Garryowen out-half Wood joined the Munster Rugby Academy last summer and made his Munster debut against Glasgow Warriors in January. He also lined out for the Ireland U20s in 2024/25 and came up through the ranks at Ballina-Killaloe RFC and St Munchin’s College.
Prop Christian Foley was unavailable for selection due to injury.
Having led Ireland in the U20 Men’s Six Nations, Sami Bishti will once again captain Browne’s side, who open their campaign against England on Saturday, 27 June (Kick-off 3.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time).
Ireland then go head-to-head with Argentina on Match Day 2 on Thursday, 2 July (Kick-off 3.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time), before concluding the Pool stages against USA in Tbilisi on Tuesday, 7 July (Kick-off 1pm local time/10am Irish time).
Ireland’s matches are live on Premier Sports and RugbyPass TV.
Commenting ahead of the tournament, Head Coach Browne said: “We’re delighted to today announce our 30-player squad for the upcoming World Rugby Junior World Championship.
“Building on from our Six Nations campaign, we have worked hard over a number of preparation camps and recent uncapped matches against Scotland and a Munster Development side.
“The World Rugby Junior World Championship is a fantastic challenge and an opportunity to test ourselves against the best teams in the world. We are aware of the challenges ahead, coming up against some quality sides in our Pool, but the players are excited for what lies ahead and are relishing the platform to grow and develop our performance levels in green.
“We’re looking forward to getting over to our base in Tbilisi and representing Ireland with pride on the world stage.”
Ireland Men’s U20s Squad – 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship
Forwards (17)
Sami Bishti (UCD/Leinster)(captain)
Ben Blaney (Terenure/Leinster)
Jamie Conway (Shannon/Munster)
Adam Cooper (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Max Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
Joe Finn (Garryowen/Munster)
Rian Handley (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Charlie Keane (Corinthians/Connacht)
Alex Lautsou (Shannon/Munster)
Duinn Maguire (UCD/Leinster)
Blake McClean (Instonians/Ulster)
Donnacha McGuire (UCD/Leinster)
Luke McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Dylan McNeice (UCD/Leinster)
Josh Neill (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Diarmaid O’Connell (Corinthians/Connacht)
Paddy Woods (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Backs (13)
Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster)
Noah Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster)
Rob Carney (Cashel/Munster)
Jack Deegan (Blackrock/Leinster)
Daniel Green (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Charlie Molony (UCD/Leinster)
James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
James O’Leary (UCC/Munster)
Charlie O’Shea (UCC/Munster)
Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University/Leinster)
Daniel Ryan (Corinthians/Connacht)
Sean Walsh (Corinthians/Connacht)
Tom Wood (Garryowen/Munster)
Ireland Men’s U20s Fixtures – 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship:
Saturday, 27 June: Ireland v England, Avchala Stadium, 3.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
Thursday, 2 July: Ireland v Argentina, Avchala Stadium, 3.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
Tuesday, 7 July: Ireland v USA, Avchala Stadium, 1pm local time/10am Irish time.