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20 Jan 2026
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20 Jan 2026
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PwC managing partner Enda McDonagh, centre, is joined by, from left, Tom Wood, Diarmaid O’Connell, head coach Andrew Browne, IRFU Junior Vice President Michael Collopy, IRFU Chairperson of Commercial
Leitrim’s Diarmuid O’Connell is named on the Irish squad for the U20s Six Nations Championship beginning in February.
He is one of two Connacht players to be featured in the 29-man squad who will kick off their campaign against France in Perpignan on Saturday, 7th of February, before returning home to Virgin Media Park in Cork to face Italy on Friday, 13th of February.
In recent months, O’Connell featured for Ireland in challenge matches against Italy and South Africa, where he scored a try, strengthening the young forwards' case for inclusion.
The Ireland U20S will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a last-place finish in the tournament last season. With only four of last year's team carrying over, it will be a ripe opportunity for young talent to show what they can do in an Irish Jersey.
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The Ireland U20s squad has been building towards the Six Nations through a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre.
Connacht's Andrew Browne, who is the Elite Player Development Officer at Connacht Rugby, took on the Head Coaching role for the Irish team during the tournament. Naming Leinster tighthead prop Sami Bishti as captain for the 2026 Championship.
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