Byrne ready to give his all for Ireland
Talented number eight will carry the hopes of Keash and Sligo at international tournament
SLIGO RUGBY’S latest Ireland U-20 international is Donnacha Byrne. The Connacht Academy player was named in Ireland U-20 head coach Richie Murphy’s 34-player squad – sponsored by PwC – for the upcoming U-20 Six Nations Championship.
Byrne, pictured, from Keash, is delighted to have made the cut. The 20-year-old is one of 19 forwards in the panel and, overall, one of six players from Connacht in the international selection.
“The last seven weeks of training has been tough – even for those of us who are academy players and used to this schedule,” said the former Summerhill College student, who also attended Ballymote’s Coláiste Muire. “I’m friendly enough with the lads who went through this process last year and I was asking them for any advice on how they got through the training camp.” Another Sligo native Hubert Gilvarry was in the extended Ireland U-20 squad but didn’t make the group for Cardiff.
“I would rate Hubert [Gilvarry] very highly but the competition in the backs for the positions he was going for – winger and full-back – was just insane. He is a very good player.”
A very capable number eight, Byrne, who started his rugby career with Sligo RFC, can also operate as a flanker.
Byrne, who has already played for Connacht Eagles (the province’s second XV), wants to make a contribution in Ireland’s five fixtures.
“I’m hoping to get as much game time as I can – I played against Leinster ‘A’ and Munster ‘A’ in the weeks leading up to this so it would be great to play in Cardiff.” “There are only six days in between games so that could mean rotation of players.”
The rescheduled U-20 Six Nations tournament gets underway this Saturday when Ireland take on Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park (2pm). Ireland take on tournament hosts Wales on Friday week, June 25, and they will also have games against England (Thursday, July 1), Italy (Wednesday, July 7) and France (Thursday, July 13).
“We have a few lads who were on the Ireland U-20 team last year – they won their matches against Scotland, Wales and England.”
“That team was on the way to winning the Six Nations [the tournament was suspended due to Covid-19 and later cancelled with no winner] and were expecting to do so until Covid hit.”
“I suppose there are expectations on this group to match those performances and expectations from last year.”
“This team are capable of performances and those performances can lead to results.” Sligo – and, specifically, Sligo RFC – has a growing tradition of producing Ireland U-20 internationals.
Byrne joins a prominent list that includes Conan O’Donnell, Cillian Gallagher (who captained the Ireland U-20s), Stephen Kerins, Jakub Wojtkowicz and Matthew Cosgrove.
Ballymote’s David McGowan played for Ireland at U-21 level (a grade replaced by the U-20 age group).