Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Irish Schoolboys rugby union
team is the national team for secondary school students and under-18 players in Ireland
.
They provide a starting point for Ireland qualified players that has led to players representing the National Team
, Ireland A
, Development, Provincial, Students, Irish U-20
and AIL
teams.
Currently in both the Republic
and Northern Ireland
there are 246 Schools playing rugby
; Ulster (107), Leinster (75), Munster (41) and Connacht (23).
countries' schoolboys sides during the year, and also other test playing nations schools teams on a more infrequent basis.
Recent matches include a narrow loss to France in a schoolboy Under-18 match on 20 December 2007.
Since 2004, the team also takes part in the annual European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship, wining the title in this competition in 2011
. It was Ireland's fourth appearance in the final, having previously lost to France i 2007, 2008 and 2010. 2011 marked the first time that Ireland was represented by a schools team rather than a Clubs XV.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team is the national team for secondary school students and under-18 players in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Role
The Irish Schoolboys side represents the nation against youths of other nations.They provide a starting point for Ireland qualified players that has led to players representing the National Team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, Ireland A
Ireland A national rugby union team
The Ireland Wolfhounds are the second national rugby union team behind the Irish national side. They have previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons and the full national teams of Canada and the United States as well as selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd...
, Development, Provincial, Students, Irish U-20
Ireland national under-20 rugby union team
The Ireland under 20 rugby team was formed in 2006. In 2007 they won the Grand Slam at the under 20 Six Nations. The current coach is Mike Ruddock.-Current squad:Squad at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship .-External links:* at Irish Rugby.ie...
and AIL
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
teams.
Currently in both the Republic
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
there are 246 Schools playing rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
; Ulster (107), Leinster (75), Munster (41) and Connacht (23).
School competitions
There are a number of notable schoolboy competitions that representative players play in, such as the Northern Bank Schools' Cup (Ulster) and the Powerade Schools' Cup (Leinster).Opposition
They also play against other 6 NationsSix Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
countries' schoolboys sides during the year, and also other test playing nations schools teams on a more infrequent basis.
Recent matches include a narrow loss to France in a schoolboy Under-18 match on 20 December 2007.
Since 2004, the team also takes part in the annual European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship, wining the title in this competition in 2011
2011 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
The 2011 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship was the eighth annual international rugby union competition for Under 18 national rugby union teams in Europe. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby . The competition was contested by...
. It was Ireland's fourth appearance in the final, having previously lost to France i 2007, 2008 and 2010. 2011 marked the first time that Ireland was represented by a schools team rather than a Clubs XV.
Notable former Schoolboy representatives
- Gordon D'ArcyGordon D'ArcyGordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...
- Luke FitzgeraldLuke FitzgeraldLuke Matthew Fitzgerald is a Rugby Union footballer. He currently plays at winger or centre for Leinster. Having previously studied at Blackrock College he won two Leinster Schools Senior Cups, in 2004 and 2006. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006...
- Cian HealyCian HealyCian Healy born 7 October 1987 in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland, is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Leinster and for the Ireland national team. He is registered to Clontarf RFC who play in AIB League Division 1...
- Jamie HeaslipJamie HeaslipJames Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...
- Shane JenningsShane JenningsShane Jennings born 8 July 1981 in Dublin, Ireland is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.He is also registered to St...
- Rob KearneyRob KearneyRobert Kearney , also referred to as Rob Kearney, is an Irish rugby union footballer who currently plays for UCD, Leinster and Ireland. As a youth he also played rugby union for Clongowes Wood College and Gaelic football for Louth in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship...
- Brian O'DriscollBrian O'DriscollBrian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...
- Jonathan SextonJonathan SextonJonathan Sexton , is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup. Sexton is a nephew of former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player Willie Sexton.Sexton is registered to St...
- Gavin DuffyGavin DuffyGavin Duffy is a rugby union footballer who plays at full back or at centre for Connacht Rugby.Educated at Cistercian College, Roscrea and UCG he first played for Ireland at Schools level in 1998 and at Under-21 level before he was brought into their senior side during the 2000/01 season.Duffy...
- Andrew DunneAndrew DunneAndrew Dunne born 18 October 1979 in Castleknock Dublin, Ireland is a rugby union player for Connacht in the Magners League. Educated at the prestigious Belvedere College SJ in Dublin, he was influential in their 1994 Junior Cup victory...
- Denis LeamyDenis LeamyDenis Leamy is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is a back row forward who can play either blind side flanker or at number 8, and has occasionally played at inside centre...
- Neil McMillanNeil McMillanNeil McMillan is an Irish rugby union flanker. He played for Sale Sharks.McMillan was educated at Belfast Royal Academy and was part of the BRA Schools' Cup winning team in 1997. McMillan joined Ulster Rugby at the start of the 2001–02 season, making his debut against Tortellini Scriblets and has...
Honours
- European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
- Champions: 2011
- Runners-up: 2007, 2008, 2009
Positions
The teams final positions in the European championship:| Year | Division | Tier | Place |
| 2004 | A Division | I | |
| 2005 | A Division | I | 5th |
| 2006 | A Division | I | 2nd — Runners-up |
| 2007 | A Division | I | 2nd — Runners-up |
| 2008 | A Division | I | 2nd — Runners-up |
| 2009 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship -Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:-Championship:* The Hungary Sweden semi final was decided on number of tries scored, which Sweden won 3-2.-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:... |
A Division | I | 5th |
| 2010 2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship -Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:The Switzerland versus Ukraine game was tied after regular time and was decided by penalty kicks.-Championship:-Relegation:... |
A Division | I | 2nd — Runners-up |
| 2011 2011 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship The 2011 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship was the eighth annual international rugby union competition for Under 18 national rugby union teams in Europe. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby . The competition was contested by... |
Elite Division | I | 1st — Champions |