THE DIFFERING FORTUNES OF THE 2016 CROP

HERE’S how the 23 involved in the Under-20 World Cup final 18 months have fared in trying to make their way in the professional ranks…

THREE TEST LEVEL ROOKIES

Jacob Stockdale, James Ryan and Andrew Porter were all capped at senior level within a year. Stockdale has four starts and four tries for Ireland. Ryan has four caps (one as starter), and Porter has three (one as starter).

NINE PRO LEAGUE TASTERS

Leinster trio Max Deegan (3 starts+6 as sub), Conor O’Brien (1+1) and Hugo Keenan (0+2) have had Pro14 exposure. Ulster have given Greg Jones (1+1) and Adam McBurney (0+2) a look-in, as have Munster with Sean O’Connor (4+2). Leicester’s Ben Betts has played Anglo Welsh Cup, Brett Connon a Premiership with Newcastle while Kelvin Brown had a season at PRO D2 side Aurillac and returned to Shannon.

SEVEN ACADEMY STALWARTS

Jimmy O’Brien is at Leinster, Johnny McPhillips at Ulster, Shane Daly, Evan Mintern and Vincent O’Brien are at Munster while Matthew Byrne and Stephen Kerins are at Connacht.

FOUR CLUBBERS

Niall Saunders left Harlequins for English National League One club Esher. James Bollard (Dublin Uni) and St Mary’s College duo Adam Coyle and David Aspil play AIL rugby.

O’CONNELL’S NEW BREED

Ireland U20s (yesterday v Leinster): J Newey (Exiles); P Sullivan (Lansdowne), T O’Brien (UCD), D McCarthy (Garryowen), P Maher (Old Belvedere); C Dean (St Mary’s), J Stewart (Queens); J Duggan (Naas), R Kelleher (Lansdowne), J Aungier (St Mary’s), C Daly (Clontarf), R Coffey (Shannon), J O’Sullivan (UCC), M Kearney (Trinity), C Dorris (St Mary’s). Reps: A Clarke (Queens), J French (UCC), B O’Connor (UCC), J Dunne (Trinity), M Agnew (Ballymena), S Masterson (Corinthians), H O’Sullivan (Clontarf), H Byrne (UCD), A Kerohan (Ballymena).